Jackson residents face fewer grocery options as city leaders, Food Network explore solutions
JACKSON, Miss. —
Jackson residents in several neighborhoods are facing fewer options for fresh and healthy food following the closure of multiple grocery stores in recent years.
Calib Stokes, a Jackson resident, said he has noticed the changes in his neighborhood.
“I feel like everything over here is dry and everything is leaving,” Stokes said.
Stokes said the closures have included familiar stores in the area.
“Family Dollar used to be right here, but it’s gone. Kroger’s too,” he said.
In South Jackson, Food Depot on Terry Road closed in December 2025. Kroger, Walgreens and several dollar stores have also closed in the area in recent years.
In West Jackson, Food Depot on Northside Drive closed in 2023. Grocery Depot on Fortification Street in Belhaven closed in 2025.
The closures have prompted city leaders to look at other ways to improve access to fresh food.
Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley said the city should consider using local farmers to help fill the void left by grocery store closures.
“If we don’t have a grocery store, but we have farmers, then let’s use them,” Hartley said.
The city has also partnered with Jackson’s Fresh Collective and Foot Print Farms as part of efforts to provide fresh food and produce.
Ward 2 Councilwoman Tina Clay said the issue goes beyond simply having a grocery store nearby. She said the quality of food available to residents also needs to be considered.
“The issue is having good, high-quality grocery and food available and we can get food within 5 or 10 miles away from us or 10 minutes, so I think we need to address the food or the quality of food that’s gonna come to the city,” Clay said.
Mississippi Food Network CEO Karli Coughlin, who has been in the position for about 60 days, said the organization is also assessing food access challenges and looking at possible strategies.
Coughlin said Mississippi Food Network works with Feeding America to identify areas with significant food needs and develop strategies to address them.
She said the organization plans to use metrics to determine whether those efforts are reaching the people who need assistance and make adjustments when necessary.
Coughlin said addressing food deserts could involve trying new approaches.
“There are several avenues that I’m exploring right now because some of this is innovative ideas, things that I don’t think I’ve been done in the past, and ideas to grow,” Coughlin said.
Coughlin said the organization is still in the process of determining what those strategies will look like. City leaders also said there is currently no specific timeframe for when changes will be implemented.
The Mississippi Food Network said its focus is on developing long-term solutions and measuring which efforts have the greatest impact on food access.
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