The city of Chicago has made strides in that last five years to bring more fresh food into the city's food deserts, which are predominately Hispanic and Black neighborhoods. Since 2010, when Mayor Rahm Emanuel adopted the issue during his campaign, big retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Walgreen Co. have made well-publicized commitments to build stores in underserved neighborhoods in Chicago and other urban centers. Now, upscale health food retailer Whole Foods wants a shot. Co-CEO John Mackey, speaking at the Economic Club of Chicago, says Whole Foods is creating a foundation, Whole Cities, to open subsidized stores in Chicago neighborhoods that lack access to fresh food as soon as this year. Other cities in Whole Foods' pilot tests are New Orleans and Newark, N.J. The new ...
Green Carts are mobile food carts that offer fresh produce in certain New York City areas. Local Law 9, signed by Mayor Bloomberg on March 13, 2008, establishes 1,000 permits for Green Carts. The purpose of Green Carts are to bring fresh, healthy produce to areas around the city that don't have access to healthy food, with customers being able to pay with SNAP benefits. Read more about NYC's Green Carts and efforts to bring them to areas in other big cities that have limited fresh food ...
The Farm Bill is was signed into law in early February 2014. The legislation cuts $4.5 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while continuing funding for SNAP’s Nutrition Education Program, community food projects, farmer’s markets, fruit and vegetable research, and SNAP incentive initiatives. The bill also includes authorizing language that would allow USDA to fund up to $125 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which supports public-private partnerships that increase access to healthy, affordable food in underserved communities. Check out the latest news on the Farm Bill ...
The Houston Department of Health and Human Services has kicked off an initiative to set up farmers markets in underserved, inner-city neighborhoods. The initiative aims to provide easier access to affordable fruits and vegetables in Houston communities that lack access to grocery stores and other fresh food outlets. HDHHS organizes monthly farmers markets in the neighborhoods of Sunnyside, Magnolia and Fifth Ward, three communities where fresh food is not readily available. Live around here? Find your farmers' ...
Five Borough Farm offers a roadmap to farmers and gardeners, City officials and stakeholders to understand and weigh the benefits of urban agriculture, and makes a compelling case for increasing resources—from soil and compost to growing space to funding—to grow urban agriculture throughout the five boroughs of New York City. For the project, the Design Trust assembled a multidisciplinary team of Project Fellows to lead the research, including experts in food policy, sustainable design, and public health evaluation, as well as a graphic designer and a photographer. The team conducted extensive research and outreach to gather and synthesize information about urban agriculture in New York City. Check out the roadmap! Check out this map of New York City area community gardens or add ...
On June 19, 2012, the City Council approved the General Plan and Zoning Code text amendment to change the City of Santa Rosa’s grocery store policies and regulations. The amendment increases access to fresh food by allowing more small grocery stores throughout the City’s commercial districts. For neighborhood corner stores, the amendment helps to improve the exterior of the store, helps them become become a Women, Infants & Children (WIC) nutrition program vendor, apply for accreditation to accept CalFresh (formerly food stamps) from customers, have healthy materials at the checkout, and a new produce display. The hope is that this measure will begin to address food deserts in the Santa Rosa area, where many Hispanic families reside. The City Council hopes to continue to ...
The Healthy Selections Coalition for Corner Stores is an initiative of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities and the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grants through the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. The Coalition seeks to provide nutritious food items at affordable prices to local corner stores, specifically targeting neighborhoods most in need. Throughout 2011, this coalition has developed a marketing and outreach strategy, met with local corner store owners and other stakeholders, and launched the ‘Tiendita Por Vida’ Healthy Selections Initiative in 2 corner stores within the Westside of San Antonio. The ultimate goal will be to build upon success in 2011 and add additional corner stores to the project in 2012 and ...
In the Latino-majority and rural region of Paso Del Norte, which encompasses southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, many families struggling to make ends meet and easy access to affordable healthy foods is lacking. A band of food justice activists were tired of watching the region’s youth grow up without a sense of connection to their land, bodies, and heritage. La Semilla Food Center was born out of this frustration, their mission being to build a healthy, self-reliant, fair, and sustainable food system in Paso Del Norte. La Semilla established its Youth Food Policy Council (YFPC) to build awareness around food issues and create healthier changes in communities. By the end of the first YFPC, 10 youth had been totally immersed in the food system, learning how polices big and small ...
Families living in food deserts, areas with limited access to grocery stores, have a harder time eating healthy because of limited fresh foods options. H.B. 725, introduced by Texas State Representative Ryan Guillen (D- Rio Grande City) in January 2013, would work to end food deserts by establishing a revolving loan fund to support investment in low-income areas in need of grocery stores. To qualify for the loan, these new groceries would be required to accept SNAP and WIC benefits, ensuring that all Texans, regardless of their zip code, would have access to healthy, quality ...
