By Nermeen Tahoun, BACH Intern

The Daily Table’s colorful sign welcomes patrons into the grocery store.

When I heard of a grocery store that subsidizes its food and produce to lower the cost for customers, I had to check it out. The Daily Table in Codman Square, Dorchester, is a not-for-profit store that purchases and/or receives donated produce at a reduced cost from local grocery stores to provide wholesome nutritious foods at affordable prices. The building has posted signage showing its love for the community. Upon entering, I found friendly staff and the general environment felt similar to a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. It is no surprise since the store was founded by Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe’s.

The store’s mission is that “…wholesome and affordable food should be available to all. We are on a mission to help communities make great choices around food by making it easy for them to choose tasty, healthy, convenient and truly affordable meals and groceries. And we do this in a respectful manner that honors our customer, engendering dignity.”

The prices seemed too good to be true; organic whole wheat bread for just $1.50, pre-made salads for $1.29, entrees for $2.99. On-site cooks prepare healthy, nutritious meals that range from $2.00-$4.00. I signed up for a membership on the spot. As a graduate student with a tight food budget of $200/month, access to healthy foods is limited when shopping at the standard grocery store. For the first time in many years, $200 will provide me with a whole, complete diet.

The next day, I purchased 4 bags of food for under $40. The cashier greeted me with a smile and responded to my disbelief with excitement and asked me to spread the word. Leaving the store, I ran into a small family whom had checked out before me. “These were under $40! I can’t believe it!” I said with continued shock. They replied, “Yes, we come here every week!” I bought pre-made salads, rice and beans, and a few entrees. The Jamaican entrée was amazing; freshly made by their in-house chefs that day, it felt as though I was eating gourmet restaurant food. I will definitely be going back for more!

To buy food, you must become a member. However, there are no restrictions for eligibility and memberships are free. Signing up is quick and easy. Upon checkout, members provide their phone number to the clerk. The store uses customer zip codes to track the neighborhoods they are benefiting, ensuring that the low-cost food initiative targets low-income communities.

BACH has been working with a cross-sector group of stakeholders to improve the food system in Codman Square. The Daily Table is an essential part of the AHEAD project (Aligning Health Equity and Development). Learn more about AHEAD.

Located at 450 Washington St in Dorchester Center, the Daily Table is MBTA accessible via the 17 bus, the Talbot Ave stop on the Fairmount line, and the Shawmut stop on the red line.

Photos taken by Nermeen Tahoun.