NEWARK — When it comes to buying groceries, nothing is more important to Lois Washington than fresh products.

That's why the 81-year-old resident of Newark's South Ward and her daughter used to ride the bus to neighboring Irvington to shop at Supremo Food Market.

Those days are over.

"Now we just have to walk two blocks over and one down and it's right here," Evangel Showell, Washington's daughter, said today while shopping at Key Food on Springfield Avenue.

As the two women browsed the aisles, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and other local officials touted the opening of the city's newest supermarket as the latest progress in banishing food deserts from pockets of Newark that lack easy access to grocery stores but have plenty of expensive convenience stores or fast food joints.

About a year ago, local officials lauded the opening of the Central Ward's Food Depot, the city's first new full-scale supermarket in more than 20 years.

"This is a mission of mine to end food deserts in Newark," Booker said today, before stocking up on some items for himself. In his basket: apples, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, pre-cut pineapple and yams.

Booker was joined by members of the Newark City Council at today's ceremonial ribbon cutting of Key Food, which opened to shoppers on Dec. 21. City leaders say the 13,000-square-foot store's offerings of fresh produce, meats and dairy as well as a full deli counter and seafood section will give residents healthier options than what's available at nearby bodegas or fast food chains.

Having access to fresh food helps fight issues like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, which are rampant in urban areas, South Ward Councilman Ras Baraka said.

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And it's not just a health issue — it's about economic growth as well, officials noted.

Formerly a shuttered auto parts store, Key Food employs 40 people, 30 of whom are Newark residents like Charles Carter, 31, who works in dairy and frozen foods. The $3 million store is part of a franchise operation that has other locations in Queens and Brooklyn, said Shihadeh Musleh, president of the Newark store.

"Stuff is much cheaper, it's much better," said Showell, 43. "It's clean (and) it makes you want to come back."

With help from the Brick City Development Corp., the city has pushed for grant funding to expand options at corner stores and now has renovated or opened a new supermarket in each ward, said Lyneir Richardson, the agency's CEO.

"We are completely elated," Baraka said of the supermarket. "I just got my Key Food savings card."

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