Retailers, foundations pledge more fresh produce
July 20, 2011 | 07:44 PM | Filed in: Nutrition White House
By JERRY HAGSTROM
Flanked by executives from Walmart, Walgreens and other companies at a White House ceremony, First Lady Michelle Obama announced today that major retailers and foundations have pledged to build or expand 1,500 stores in communities that do not have fresh produce and other healthy food.
“We can give people all of the information and advice in the world about healthy eating and exercise. We can talk all we want about calorie counts and recipes and how to serve balanced meals,” the first lady said. “But if parents can’t buy the food they need to prepare those meals, if their only options for groceries are in the corner gas station or the local minimart, then all that is just talk. It’s all just talk, and that is not what ‘Let’s Move’ is about. “
The first lady was referring to her “Let’s Move” campaign to reduce childhood obesity through better eating and exercise.
According to a White House news release, SuperValu, Inc. has promised to build 250 new stores, Walmart has promised to build or expand 275 to 300 new stores and Walgreens has promised “to expand nutritious offerings in 1,000 stores.” Regional and independent retailers have also promised expansions in Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Most of the financing for the new stores appears to be private, but the California Endowment has secured $200 million to finance stores in underserved areas in California. The Obama administration has asked Congress for hundreds of millions of dollars for financing for the stores, but won only $35 million in financing, $25 million from the Treasury Department and $10 million from the Health and Human Services Department.
The White House asked for $330 million in this year’s budget, but it unlikely to get that money from Congress. Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager, who attended the event, said that USDA would finance some facilities but could not say how many or how much money would be spent.
Melody Barnes, director of the White House Policy Council, emphasized in a telephone call to reporters that the constructions of the stores and their operations would create jobs.
Flanked by executives from Walmart, Walgreens and other companies at a White House ceremony, First Lady Michelle Obama announced today that major retailers and foundations have pledged to build or expand 1,500 stores in communities that do not have fresh produce and other healthy food.
“We can give people all of the information and advice in the world about healthy eating and exercise. We can talk all we want about calorie counts and recipes and how to serve balanced meals,” the first lady said. “But if parents can’t buy the food they need to prepare those meals, if their only options for groceries are in the corner gas station or the local minimart, then all that is just talk. It’s all just talk, and that is not what ‘Let’s Move’ is about. “
The first lady was referring to her “Let’s Move” campaign to reduce childhood obesity through better eating and exercise.
According to a White House news release, SuperValu, Inc. has promised to build 250 new stores, Walmart has promised to build or expand 275 to 300 new stores and Walgreens has promised “to expand nutritious offerings in 1,000 stores.” Regional and independent retailers have also promised expansions in Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Most of the financing for the new stores appears to be private, but the California Endowment has secured $200 million to finance stores in underserved areas in California. The Obama administration has asked Congress for hundreds of millions of dollars for financing for the stores, but won only $35 million in financing, $25 million from the Treasury Department and $10 million from the Health and Human Services Department.
The White House asked for $330 million in this year’s budget, but it unlikely to get that money from Congress. Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager, who attended the event, said that USDA would finance some facilities but could not say how many or how much money would be spent.
Melody Barnes, director of the White House Policy Council, emphasized in a telephone call to reporters that the constructions of the stores and their operations would create jobs.
