something fresh. fresh cut coconut. and myrna knows how much that matters. when she moved this struggling neighborhood it was an urban food desert with plenty of fast food, but almost no fruit and vegetables like she grew up with on the texas/mexico border. if i could not find this anywhere, why not open up my own establishment and offer every single day for me, for selfish reasons and for everyone else? reporter: some predicted local was not support her. that was seven years ago. enjoy your lunch. reporter: lota fruita has been growing with liberate fruit cups, ice creams, sandwiches and much more. lotta fruita has become so important to the community s identity, it s been given a $50,000 expansion loan from the city. this is an up-and-coming neighborhood being revitalized. so we are always looking to
naturally sweetest fruit. passion fruit mango. reporter: as sure as peaches pop out in summer, every day customers pour into lotta fruita seeking something fresh. fresh cut coconut. reporter: and mere na perez knows how much that matters. when she moved to the struggling neighborhood, it was an urban foot desert with plenty of fresh fruit but almost no fruit and vegetables like she grew up with. i figured if i could not find this anywhere, why not open up my own establishment and be able to offer every day for me for selfish reasons and for everyone else. reporter: some predicted locals would not support her, but that was seven years ago. thank you very much. enjoy your lunch. reporter: and lotta fruita has been growing ever since with elaborate fruit cups, ice creams, smoothies, sandwiches, and much more. there s nothing like this anywhere around here. reporter: it s become so important to the community s
higher prices this fall. no matter what, a fruit market will go on in one atlanta neighborhood where tom foreman takes us on this week s american journey. it s going to be our naturally sweetest fruit. passion fruit mango. reporter: as sure as peaches pop out in summer, every day customers pour into lottafrutta. fresh cut coconut. reporter: she knows how much that matters. when she moved her, it was an urban food desert, with almost no fruit and vegetables. i figured if i could not find this anywhere, why not open up my own establishment and offer every single day for me, for selfish reasons, and for everyone else?