Last month we set off on an adventure to Philadelphia to visit The Food Trust, an organization that has pioneered healthy corner store transformations. Be Healthy Berrien, along with our collaborating partners, Grand Rapids YMCA and LiveWell Colorado, were able to learn first hand how The Food Trust healthy corner store model has grown and developed over the years. We visited the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, a huge refrigerated facility bursting with produce options from all around the world, where many of the Philadelphia corner store owners go to procure healthy food items. We met an influential community member, Arnett Woodall, who founded West Phillie Produce, a community grocery store focused on empowering youth and providing fresh food options to the neighborhood. And we had ample discussion about how our work aligns; sharing in both our successes and challenges.
Trying to make changes to our community’s food system is not always easy but sharing and collaborating with others who are working to build healthier communities makes a huge difference!
To learn more about the work we are doing in corner stores around our community check our healthy corner store page https://behealthyberrien.org/healthy-corner-stores/