Portland observer., December 07, 2011, Page 8, Image 8

$îortlanô (Observer
Page 8
December 7, 2011
“We have a lot of different goals
and a lot of different ways to do
them,” she said. “But all of the stores
we work with have increased the
fruits and vegetables they offer, and
she said.
c o n t i n u e d f r o m front
some have done low-fat curry, whole
“Parents also told us we should
wheat and grains, brown rice, wheat
port each business will receive. The look around the schools and exam­
flower or whole grain bread.”
maximum amount, said Banks, is ine the food environment to make
In some o f the participating
$4,500.
sure there were healthy options in
stores,
customers will see products,
“We have about a 30-day turn­ the neighborhoods.”
such as apples, canned fruit, grains,
around, and we review grants every
According to Banks, over half of
eggs and milks labeled with the
month,’’ she said.
Multnomah County adults are over­
“H ealthy O ptions Start H ere”
With the rising rate of obesity weight or obese. The U.S. Surgeon
sticker. But several other products
throughout the city, the program is General predicted that the current
labeled with the signage are ques­
targeted to boost the viability of generation of children, if we keep
tionably healthy.
local stores, while simultaneously going at the rate we are going, will be
Lays Baked Potato chips and
providing the com m unity with the first to live shorter lives than
Nutrigrain bars.forexample, are dis­
healthy options.
their parents.
played behind the county placards
“We want to address obesity,
“We are focusing on areas of our
within Selam Market.
which is a problem within our com­ city that have low food access,”
At the Alberta Street Market in
munity,” Banks said. “And putting said Banks. “We want to make sure
northeast Portland, the healthy
prevention to work is to develop people have equitable access to
sticker is labeled right on its front
and implement policies that make culturally relevant and healthy food Customers are reminded about the healthy choices in the foods
they consider for purchase in a new "Healthy Options Start Here
doors, but once inside, there are
healthy options easier in the places in their neighborhood.”
very few “healthy” products to be
we live, work, study, worship and
There are several components to campaign by Multnomah County.
play.”
the initiative, she said, that pro­ and then they get to choose what what to sell,” she said. “But we have found.
Owner Chris Chun said he has
The effort follows several other vides grants to entrepreneurs to those are based on their customer’s a list of options in categories based
yet to apply for a grant as part of the
programs that focused on how to help them both implement and pro­ need and culturally appropriate,” on federal recommendations.”
county program. Inside his market,
reduce the rising rates of obesity mote healthy options at neighbor­ she said.
The options as to how these food
within the city.
hood comer stores, often serving
A list of healthy products is pro­ items can be sold are flexible. Fruits there is only one product labeled as
Several people from the local as “community spaces.”
vided to those who participate within and vegetables could be fresh, healthy: bottled water.
He said people don't really visit
community have asked for healthy
“We ask people to carry a cer­ the Initiative.
canned with no sugar added, dried,
his store looking for healthy prod­
options in the retail environment, tain amount of healthy products,
“We don’t go in and tell them or frozen, said Banks.
ucts, calling the goal of providing
healthier foods,' “easier said than
done.”
Chun said he is considering ap­
plying for a grant in the future be­
cause healthier food is always a
“good thing,” and he could also use
a new freezer.
Berhane Sebhatu, the owner of
Selam Market, agreed.
It’s good to have healthy food,
he said.
Banks said the initiative would
be considered successful if people
consumed more fruits and veg­
etables and whole grains, and if
they consumed less sugary drinks.
She said another element is to
provide assistance and education
for the businesses, including pro-
bono consultations, tool kits and
videos based on information they
said they want or need.
“There have been a lot of great
people coming together to provide
assistance to stores for things like
creating business plans,” she said.
“For example, food handling train­
ing, and teaching them how to handle
produce and make it look cool to
have maximum shelf life.”
She said they are also getting
ready to offer food merchandising
and product placement workshops
to inform businesses on how to
organize inventory, so more people
will buy the healthy products.
“I am excited about the initiative.
It is a great example of local govern­
ment responding to community
needs,” she said. “By community,
that includes residents, those who
helped
with the planning efforts,
E A S Y & F U N TO S H O P • S E N S IB L Y P R IC E D • LOCALLY O W N E D & O P E R A T E D
the retailers, and the public-private
partnerships that have come out to
A R B O R L O D G E • 5 0 3 .4 6 7 .4 7 7 7
C O N C O R D IA • 5 0 3 .2 8 8 3 8 3 8
support retailers.”
In te rs ta te A v e & P o rtla n d B lv d
N E 3 3 rd & K illin g s w o r th
For more information on how to
become involved, visit multco-
w w w .n e w s e a s o n s m a r k e t.c o m
itstartshere.org.
Healthy Food
NEW
Time to Order your DIESTEL TURKEY!
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