Subscribe to the RSS feed.What are Healthy Corner Stores?
In looking for ways to combat both obesity and hunger (which are inter-related,some discussion has turned to the idea of creating healthier corner stores. Rather than an abundance of junk food, under such an initiative corner stores would be encouraged and enabled to stock fresh fruit and other produce.
These revamped local markets would be a solution to the problem of “food deserts,” which result when grocery stores move out of low-income neighborhoods, leaving residents without access to healthy food. This kind of “grocery store redlining” occurs disproportionally in low-income neighborhoods, which may represent lower profits than wealthier areas. Residents in low-income communities often have to rely on convenience stores, where a quart of milk costs twice as much as a quart of soda, or endure long bus rides to more affordable markets with healthier choices.
How can local urban planning and food system policy promote healthy corner stores in all neighborhoods? What data do we need in our region to move forward with a corner store initiative? A “healthy corner store” might look different depending on the community it serves. Do you have any insight into healthy corner stores? Join the conversation below.
For detailed information on the issues involved with healthy corner store initiatives, as well as some suggested next steps, read Public Health Law & Policy’s report here.
