Inspiration: Market Makeovers

I discovered Market Makeovers at The Food Rendezvous in August and have not stopped thinking about it since. It's a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming junk food-stocked corner stores and bodegas into healthy markets in low-income neighborhoods or "food deserts" where liquor and convenience stores dominate and farmers' markets are a foreign concept. What really struck a chord was their civic approach to the problems of obesity and diabetes plaguing poor areas. It's easy to point a finger at "the parents" for not teaching their children to eat fruits and vegetables at home but often times the only ingredients available to moms without transportation or time is an aging box of macaroni and cheese on a corner store shelf. By linking these underserved areas directly to farmers and farm-fresh produce, not only will there be better food choices but there's also an opportunity and incentive for people to spend their hard-earned dollars within the community. A simple revolutionary concept. Check out this video: