Michelle Obama, Wal-Mart and the 'food desert' problem (Moochelle Want Million$ for Urban Stores)

LA Times ^ | 22 July 11 | Daniela Hernandez

[SkyPilot]

What a first lady, a chain store and others are doing to try to make fresh fruits and vegetables more available in poor communities.

Nothing’s ever as simple as we’d like it to be. A case in point: Policies that simply increase access to supermarkets may not get people to choose an apple over ice cream, a recent study reported.

Changing people’s eating habits is difficult, in other words. One reason is money. Healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy, can often be pricey. For the cost of a couple of peaches, a person can get a full meal on the dollar menu at a fast-food outlet. Another problem: The produce in stores in low income neighborhoods is often of low quality.

This is a hefty problem, given that 1 in every 3 children and adults is overweight or obese. Policy-makers and health-food advocates across the country are developing programs to increase access to healthful foods—and make it easier for people to buy them.

Here's a look at some of them:

-- Earlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama introduced the California FreshWorks Fund, a $200-million partnership between the California Endowment and grocers, healthcare organizations and financial institutions. The project is meant to promote development of grocery stores, farmers markets, gardening programs and other solutions to increase access to high-quality, healthful foods in areas with limited availability (so-called food deserts). Retailers that offer a greater selection of healthful foods and sell less junk food will get easier access to the grants. Organizers said they hoped the program would create 6,000 jobs in California.

[MrB]

You’d be hard pressed to find ANY 0bama policy that didn’t have the effect and the intent of de facto reparations.

Here’s an idea to solve “food deserts” -

teach Holder’s people not to rob the grocery stores in their neighborhoods, and you’d have move grocery stores in those neighborhoods.

[NoNAIS]

Now this makes sense. We live in a food desert, of course our garden, our neighbors gardens and our livestock tend to belay that “fact”.

In my opinion, designating a “Food Desert” is just another way to bring the White House Rural Council (Executive Order: 13575) into our homes and communities.

PBS also has been pushing this non-issue:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/06/the-socio-economic-significance-of-food-deserts.html

The food desert designation was based on - get this - Whole Foods markets in the area!

Elitists just don’t get it or do they? Make a family dependent on the programs through habitual purchases and then threaten to “take it away”.

Gee - where have I heard that before. Debt Ceiling anyone?

[hal ogen]

I just looked at that site. Yes...the government is insane. ...and to think how much they must spend to create and implement this waste of resources.

[funfan]

Well the only reason I mention her looks or large body frame is that the media is trying to tell me she is the most beautiful and in shape woman ever so I call them like I see them

[ladyjane]

I agree completely. Food stamps should be limited to such staples as flour, milk, eggs, maybe a little cheese, and little else.

Do you realize food stamps can be used to buy candy and soda and evan can be used in restaurants. Last Valentine’s Day the local CVS had a big banner advertising boxes of Russell Stover candy that could be ‘bought’ with food stamps.

[Disambiguator]

What a bunch of sourpusses. You could curdle milk just by placing that bottom photo next to the glass.

[SkyPilot]

I agree completely. Food stamps should be limited to such staples as flour, milk, eggs, maybe a little cheese, and little else.

I think they should be not be allowed to be used as cash substitutes at the registers, period. Do you know what people on Food Stamps currently are issued? It isn't coupons anymore.

It is an ATM/debit card.

[SkyPilot]

Exactly. I’ve seen 10 packages of frozen PBJ sandwiches on white bread bought on food stamps. What the idiot spent on this luxury item could have bought a months worth of bread, peanut butter and a jar of jelly. Of course, the frozen PBJ had the crust cut off. It’s laziness, pure and simple.

You're right. Reagan said that you get more of what you subsidize.

[SkyPilot]

Minorities spectating at basketball games in the facility would purchase food at our concessions as the basketball program had no food for sale. Rarely would the basketball spectators purchase the fruits or veggies that we were selling. They almost always purchased our pizza, pop, and nachos—and they almost always asked for EXTRA CHEESE. These people could have purchased eggs, pasta salad, fruit salad, hamburgers, fruit and veggies, but they chose not to, not because it was not available.

I remember reading the WIC (Women Infants Children) program limited what you could buy (i.e. eggs, vegetables, etc). I don't know why this isn't applied to Food Stamps (sorry....."SNAP Debit Cards.")

[SkyPilot]

I like watching reruns of "The Waltons" on the Hallmark Channel. The Walton children (even the youngest) helped pick peaches for a dollar a day. They were allowed to take all the culls they wanted, which were turned into preserves. I suggest instead of taking truckloads of produce into poor neighborhoods, they bus the poor to the farms and let them pick it for themselves.

I remember that episode!

[nascarnation]

I don't know why this isn't applied to Food Stamps (sorry....."SNAP Debit Cards.")

I'll make a guess.

There are now so many people on food stamps - 45 million as of this month - that a lot of food mfgrs are likely lobbying against your idea so as not to lose business.

[SkyPilot]

I know a couple who run a grocery in one of the worse areas of Cleveland. They list many issues - shoplifting, costs for security, a narrow range of products are bought (mostly cheap ones, snacks, soda), unreliable employees - they would like to be able to sell out one day, but they know no one would buy their business.

I know about the shop lifting (having witnessed it first hand). Didn't think about the unreliable employees and the fact that only junk food and soda were the big range items selling.

Those people owning that store are screwed. It's a pity.

[nascarnation]

Record number on food stamps.
Record number of obese people.

I believe this is not coincidence.

[SkyPilot]

I’ve wondered if a different model of store would work in urban areas. I’ve long been wondering if this is the grocery store of the future. The building would be a fully enclosed warehouse, where no people other than workers were allowed in the back where the food is. It has a front desk or desks. You phone your order in, it’s picked in the back by workers, and brought out to you at the desk (you could schedule a pickup time). You look it over to make sure it matches what you ordered and that it’s ok, pay for it, and leave with it. No shoplifting is possible - the only loss would be worker theft and that’s more easily controlled.

You have actually hit on the same idea I had. I know what roadblock would be: Democrats, povery and race pimps, the media, and every left wing group in the world would scream bloody murder, saying we were "robbing people of dignity" and probably worse....."racism."

But, it would work. I know it would work better than the current system. For one, it would be a hassle - which is a GOOD thing. It would motivate people to get OFF the SNAP program, rather then encourage them to enroll in it. We have 40 Million Americans sucking off this teat now.

Food-stamp tally nears 40 million, sets record

[TheOldLady]

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[Freedom56v2]

I have heard that people buy steak and lobster with food stamps. I have also heard of people buying HAMBURGER FOR THEIR DOGS with food stamps.

I am not even addressing the rampant theft/fraud. People sell the food stamp credit cards for cash on the streets in Wisconsin—they then report card stolen or lost and get a new one with no questions asked. Hopefully, Governor Walker has stopped that fraud!!

[Freedom56v2]

Wow, excellent post!!!

[Freedom56v2]

You are in a wonderful state, much safer and in much better fiscal shape than any city with a “food desert!”

[Melas]

Poor people are not obese simply because eating healthier cost more. What a crock.

I can't agree with you there. Several years ago now, my doctor said I absolutely had to change my eating habits. We switched from what was primarily a fast food and junk food diet to home cooked healthy meals. You'd think that cutting out the fast food alone would have saved a bundle, but our food budget more than doubled. It is not cheap to eat well, but 10,000 calories worth of donuts costs about three bucks.