Walmart, Walgreens, SUPERVALU and some regional supermarkets have promised to open or expand stores in areas where people do not have access to quality affordable food. It is estimated that 23.5 million Americans currently live in these “food deserts.” These efforts are expected to positively impact 9.5 million people and create thousands of jobs in low-income neighborhoods.
This announcement highlight’s the First Lady’s anti-obesity initiative, Let’s Move! She points to studies that show that limited access to healthy food leads to high incidents of obesity and disease in all demographics.
“We can give people all the information and advice in the world about healthy eating and exercise, but if parents can’t buy the food they need to prepare those meals because their only options for groceries are the gas station or the local minimart, then all that is just talk,” Mrs. Obama said.
The Partnership for a Healthier America procured an agreement from Walmart to create 300 stores by 2016, Walgreens will offer fruits and vegetables in at least 1,000 stores, and SUPERVALU to open 250 stores in the next five years. Store locations will be decided based on community needs. Visit letsmove.org or ahealthieramerica.org for more updates about this project.