Local stores in deprived areas of England are set to receive Department of Health grants to boost fresh fruit and vegetable sales.
The announcement from the department today comes after a similar project in Scotland was shown to grow sales.
The pilot is being run in the north-east of England which will receive a £200,000 grant before it is rolled out nationally.
The aim of the grants is to help shops buy the shelving, chillers and promotional material required to get people to eat more healthily.
The Scottish scheme has run over the past four years and has helped small retailers promote fresh produce. There are some 500 stores signed up north of the border and they report a massive 500 per cent sales increase.
Health minister Ivan Lewis said: "We know that families in some communities still use the corner shop on a daily basis for their food and other household goods.
"It is therefore essential we take healthy eating options to these stores and reach those families who are at the greatest risk of poor health due to a poor diet."
Shops will still be able to sell confectionery and carbonated drinks alongside their enhanced fresh produce offer, but government's hope is that if they can make fruit and vegetables more visible it will at least have an upward influence on sales.
The scheme is scheduled to start this autumn.
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