Salad via Tanya Hall on sxc.hu
America recently gained awareness about “food deserts”, urban communities with a plethora of corner stores selling processed junk food, but no access to fresh produce and meats. Some see this as a critical opportunity to address that nation’s obesity epidemic.
However, it can be challenging for vendors to enter these markets when the customer base is not accustom to fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets.
So nonprofits have entered the market with grocery stores that have two goals – to supply nutritious options and provide education, according to WBEZ- FM. Louis Groceries recently opened a location in Chicago’s Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. While it still carries Coca-Cola and Frito-Lays, some of the best-selling items, the store also offers an array of fresh produce and quality chicken according to store manager/director Terri Zhu.
A similar program is being created in Chester, Pennsylvania by the Philabundance organization. The community has been without a grocery store for more than 11 years, but that will change once the Fare & Square store is open to community members.
Are you aware of other organizations addressing America’s “food deserts”? Let us know in the comments.
Abila blog 