Healthy Bodegas

Corner grocery stores, long viewed as a cause of obesity, are increasingly seen as a solution, reports Kevin Granville in the New York Times (11/2/09). In Newark, for instance, city officials are treating Francisco Baez to two new refrigerators, to be installed at the front of his small grocery store and filled with fruits and vegetables. Because of his can-do attitude, Francisco was chosen from among 80 local grocers as the first to try replacing junk food with fresh food. He simply likes "the idea of offering customers an expanded selection of produce."

He also likes the new, checkout scanner system he was given to sweeten the deal. The Newark program is similar to those in other cities, in which "public health organizations and economic development agencies" offer "new equipment, marketing expertise or neighborhood promotions to encourage them to stock more fresh produce, whole wheat bread and other healthy offerings." In New York City, for example, the "Healthy Bodegas" program so far "has reached out to 1,000 stores in a variety of ways, including helping owners secure zoning permits to allow fruit and vegetable displays on the sidewalk."

Such programs have gained currency because cities have largely failed to attract major supermarkets that might introduce healthier grocery options into poor, city neighborhoods. Newark, a city of 279,000, has just three supermarkets, for example. It’s a lot riskier selling fresh produce than packaged chips, obviously, and not necessarily more profitable. But Francisco Baez isn’t worried about that: "Will I make any more money? I have no idea," he shrugs. Anne Gross, a participating grocer in Cleveland is similarly altruistic: "Even if it changes a couple of people’s habits it would be a huge benefit," she says.