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Fresh Produce Coming To More Walgreens Drugstores

CHICAGO (CBS) -- More Chicago area Walgreens drugstores will soon offer fresh produce.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding reports, by the end of 2013, Walgreens says it plans to have nearly 50 Chicago drugstores with fresh fruits and vegetables and other groceries.

The nation's largest drugstore chain plans to open the stores in communities that don't have many options that don't have fresh produce.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding reports

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It also plans to remodel many of its 142 locations in the city, and open at least five new stores.

The Deerfield-based company remodeled at least 10 stores last year, adding about 750 new food items such as fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meats and fish, pasta, rice, beans, eggs and whole-grain cereal.

Walgreens is also bringing 600 new jobs to Chicago over the next two years, executives at the drugstore chain announced Wednesday with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

That move is part of Walgreens' new "Chicago Hometown Investment Initiative," which is the same one that will quadruple the number of stores in the city's food deserts.

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