A team of dedicated volunteers is making steady strides toward the launch of a fresh food grocery store in Dundee, with the opening targeted for late spring or early summer.
The nonprofit Dundee Fresh Grocery, located at 19 Union St. across from the Village Hall and Fire Department, is nearing completion thanks to support from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and local business sponsors. Deliveries of shelving, coolers, kitchen equipment, and other store necessities have recently ramped up.
“With final staffing decisions and permits pending, it will soon be time to stock the shelves,” said President Alice Shoemaker.
The store will offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and other local products to a community that has lacked easy access to wholesome foods since Martini’s Supermarket closed in 2019. In addition to groceries, it will serve as a spot for coffee, light meals, and social connection.
Volunteers will play an essential role in operations, preparing food items like breakfast sandwiches and coffee, and assisting customers. Shoemaker emphasized that this is more than a retail effort—it’s a community-driven mission.
Dundee Fresh Grocery traces its roots to a grassroots initiative where local families began distributing fresh produce to anyone living within the Dundee Central School District. That 2024 effort, backed by dozens of volunteers, reached hundreds of households and laid the groundwork for the year-round store.
Details about the grand opening and store hours will be announced soon. To learn more or sign up to volunteer, visit www.dundeefreshgrocery.org or follow Dundee Fresh Grocery on Facebook.
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