Stamping out food deserts

By Charita Mariner on February 11, 2012 5 comments

I know what it is like to not have easy access to fresh foods. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and we used to walk to a liquor store to get our groceries. And the prices? Way too high.

A few months ago, I had the chance to stand with First Lady Michelle Obama as she pledged to eliminate food deserts like the one where I was raised. I’m a store manager for Walmart, and I see what a difference it makes when families can bring home fresh, nutritious and affordable food.

I stood with the First Lady because Walmart joined with her in making a commitment to find solutions to food deserts in urban and rural areas. We committed to opening as many as 300 stores in food deserts over five years. That means we’d reach about 800,000 Americans who are under-served right now.

This week, Walmart reported on our progress. We have already opened 23 stores, and it looks as if we will open 50 to 60 stores in food deserts this year alone.

Customers tell me all of the time that they want healthy options that are accessible and fit within their budgets. And since families are incredibly busy and working hard, they don’t have time to research all of their options.

Now, my store in Virginia – and every Walmart in the United States – will have an icon on healthier foods so that customers can spot healthy choices more easily.

It’s part of our healthier food initiative, and I am so proud that it includes a pledge to stamp out food deserts. At my store, customers thank us constantly simply for being nearby – and that feels great. I talk about that and tell a bit of my story here:

Bridging the gap between the shelf and the kitchen Share the love with fair trade certified Valentine’s Day gifts

5 Comments Add your own

1. Brandon | February 11, 2012 at 6:57 pm

It’s great to see walmart doing great things for the community. I enjoy my local Walmart.
Reply
- 2. Walmart Green Room | February 13, 2012 at 5:23 pm
  
  Thank you for your comment, Brandon! We are working hard to help create access to fresh food in all the areas we service. Keep checking the blogs for updates on our work in communities around the world!
  Reply
3. Pete (The Cyclery Bike Tees) | February 12, 2012 at 12:01 pm

This is a BIG problem in Brooklyn, where I live. Many people have only corner bodegas to rely on for food, and the options include very little fresh produce. What there is tends to be very poor quality.
Reply
- 4. Walmart Green Room | February 13, 2012 at 5:35 pm
  
  Thanks for your thoughts, Pete. We hope we can bring Walmart’s benefits to New York City soon. For more information about Walmart in New York, take a look at our NYC site or like the Walmart NYC Facebook. And don’t forget to check back here each week for updates on our sustainability initiatives!
  Reply
5. EFPaisley | February 14, 2012 at 1:24 pm

I applaud Wal-mart for their efforts. Community planning and sustainablity studies have shown that demographics, health and fuel costs are driving a need for neighborhoods to become walkable, revitalized and self sustaining. However the same government that gives lip service to such ideas continues to slap us with laws, regulations and ordinances that restrict such activities. Local CPC’s, DDA’s and ZBA’s (Citizens Planning Commissions, Downtown Development Authorities and Zoning Boards of Appeal) consistently squash and over-regulate such efforts. Maybe Wal-mart is big enough they can have some influence,,,,
Reply

The Green Room