PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) - Nearly 90% of people living on Pueblo's Eastside have to travel over a mile to get groceries according to Pueblo Food Project (PFP).
PFP also says the Eastside is off the food grid, which means there are not a lot of food resources.
But Evans Gonzalez, owner of Super Market Gonzalez is working to change this, by opening a Mexican grocery store on 4th St. and Bradford Ave.
Gonzalez, who lives on the Eastside, says he wants to make sure people in this neighborhood have access to quality food and other products.
Super Market Gonzalez will offer a variety of products from fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, piñatas, Mexican candy and they'll eventually have a carnicería.
PFP tells 11 News in a statement, "We are trying to adjust the narrative around food deserts, so PFP and partner organizations prefer to use 'off the food grid.'
"Desert can imply desolation, we know there are so many vibrant businesses, organizations, and community members on the Eastside.
"We also want to highlight that the lack of food access is a product of decades of systemic disinvestment in the area that has resulted in the current issues residents are facing. But the momentum is shifting and organizations are working hard to bring new business and opportunities to the Eastside.
"In Pueblo over 70% of residents have to travel more than a mile for groceries, and over 88% of Eastsiders have to travel over a mile.
"The creation of a grocery store on the Eastside, owned and operated by an Eastside resident, is going to make such a positive impact."
Gonzalez tells 11 News, "We'll find the means to do it because we saw the benefit of it and (the) great impact it was going to be on the Eastside."
Also, Gonzalez says, "For produce like it's far to go to get, you know, so I was like we need something here.
"More like where people can come and get actual (quality) food you know that they could eat and something different."
Additionally, Gonzalez says he wants to work with more local farmers for their produce.
Super Market Gonzalez opens this coming Saturday, May 24th.