A group of concerned students in Watsonville, CA formed Jóvenes SANOS, a program working to raise awareness about childhood obesity and implement policies that promote healthy nutrition and physical activity. This case study highlights the Watsonville Healthy Markets Pilot Program where students have successfully engaged local corner stores in marketing and promoting healthier food options. The program has contributed to substantial health improvements and decreased the County’s obesity rate.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Growing Power, a leading local urban agriculture organization, announced the launch of Farmer’s for Chicago, a new program that will make available up to five acres of City-owned vacant lots for urban farming activity, and help expand the supply chain for local neighborhood-level food production and wholesale. The city lots will be prepared for local nonprofits that will be able to install food growing equipment, and train up to 20 people in urban farming and skills

Speakers from the Healthy Food, Healthy Economies: The Impact of Healthy Sustainable Food Systems webinar address reoccurring themes during the Question and Answer period. Pat Smith explains the importance of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, Dr. Oran Hesterman discusses the Double Up Bucks food program, Jim Weill shares additional information on SNAP benefits and Helen Dombalis talks about strengthening local food systems.

This report examines the pilot season of Arcadia’s Mobile Market through a quantitative analysis of its operations and sales, as well as qualitative assessment of how well the program achieved its mission-driven goals. It includes the basic business plan, day-to-day operations, capital campaign and general operating budgets, and future plans for Arcadia’s Mobile Market.

Michele and Erich March, part-owners of the March Funeral Homes in Baltimore, are taking a 180-degree turn to ready a new business venture in East Baltimore: a grocery store called Apples and Oranges.It will offer fresh fruits, veggies, meats and fish, and an array of freshly prepared, healthy foods made daily by a chef who said he knows what it is like to grow up in a community where sodas, French fries, lake trout sandwiches and fried chicken boxes have ruled for years.

In an area where fresh foods are not readily accessible, the opening of a new supermarket is music to the ears of residents in the East Baltimore community near Broadway and North Avenue.Six years in the planning, this weekend marks the grand opening of the new Apples and Oranges.Owners are positioning the market as one that will not only offer healthier foods but will serve as a resource on how to eat healthier as well. Community leaders hope this will attract other businesses to the city.

State officials are launching a pilot program to encourage food stamp recipients to eat more fruits and vegetables. Starting in June, food stamp customers at select grocery stores in Minnesota will get a $5 coupon for fruits and vegetables. They'll be able to use that coupon during their next visit to the grocery store. Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson expects the incentive will encourage people to try produce they haven't tried before.

This report assesses and graphically depicts walkable access to healthy food retailers in Philadelphia for 2010 and 2012. It focuses additional attention on low‐income neighborhoods in which residents may have the fewest resources to purchase healthy foods and/or to travel to distant retailers. This analysis includes supermarkets, corner stores, convenience stores, farmers’ markets, and produce carts. Based on published research, each food retailer is assigned a score and service area reflecting its relative size, operating hours, and the availability and quantity of healthy foods for purchase.