Reply to Why is there a shortage of grocery stores and fresh food options in Wards 7 and 8?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Persistent poverty[/quote]

I think its a bit more complicated than that. OP you said you went to an exhibit about food justice I would think the exhibit would have answered your question.

Let's start with redlining of the those community which is the systematic process over decades of jamming people, black and brown people into an area with no investment. Grocery stores will then claim they can't make it work financially because of poverty, high rates of theft, etc. . So forget the chain grocery stores - new models of getting healthy food into those areas need to be created as well as creating pathways for increasing consumer demand for healthy foods in those communities. It's not just poverty at play. Not everyone needs a Whole Foods or Traders Joe's. If we are being honest there's lots of foods in both stores that are unhealthy. Farmers markets that allow purchases through WIC are successful, for example.

Some of this stuff is solvable but it takes some creative thinking and commitment.[/quote]

You're overlooking the most important factor here: How will you "create consumer demand for healthy food" in these communities? That's been tried for YEARS and the obesity rates just keep climbing. I was a big fan of Michelle Obama's health food and Let's Move campaigns but anyone who tried to do that today would be called racist. [/quote]

I actually work in public health and on childhood obesity in particular. Im.not being critical of Michelle Obamas work but it was more of a PR effort and gave the government cover to implement programs. Conduct studies and foundatations did their part as well. Obesity rates did decline in some jurisdictions like Philadelphia for example however rates remain high within certain segments. The problem is complicated because a big culprit is thr food system itself and the sheer amount of calories that are available for Americans to consume. One piece of Michelle Obamas effort that gets overlooked was the push to push food companies to reduce the number of calories they produce. So in otherwords chane ingredients and produce healthier food.

Regarding consumer demand, the work to change taste buds is complex. Its starts in utero with what mom eats. There isn't one answer and requires multiple levers. And other considerations come into play when you are talking about formerly redlined communities like Ward 7 and 8.  The key is to create an environment so that its easy to opt-in to the healthy choice. For example I mentioned the push to allow consumers to use their food benefits in farmers markets, that HAS been successful.

I would argue that not enough has been done and that many studies bear this out. [/quote]

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