Portage Township officials exploring ways to address growing food desert

Portage Township officials are exploring ways to address a growing food desert on South Bend’s west side after the Kroger on West Western closed in July. Township Trustee Jason Critchlow says food insecurity affects multiple neighborhoods, estimating about 40,000 people in St. Joseph County lack reliable access to food. Roughly half earn too much to qualify for federal assistance but too little to afford groceries. Officials are considering community-owned food co-ops, mobile food markets, or a partnership where a government entity buys the former Kroger building and works with a vendor to provide affordable groceries.