Chicagoist: Brother, Can You Spare a Tomato?

Sarah

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:53:50 -0600

Ben, you're right. But although chain stores are mentioned in the aftermath of the study, Mari's team merely looked at the distance to ANY grocery store. I think the point is that the stores you mentioned are simply not accessible to enough people in enough neighborhoods, and there seems to be nothing comparable to these large hispanic grocery stores on the south side.

Ben

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:22:24 -0600

Having major grocery stores is not going to give them access to cheap produce. You may notice the figures saying that Latino areas have the lowest concentration of big grocery stores. If you have driven through the west side at all, this is not surprising. Why would they ever want to shop at Jewel when they could go to Cermak Produce or Carniceria Jimenez or any of the other innumberable grocery stores that carry many more products from hispanic countries and have lower prices to boot.

Pez

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 06:25:03 -0600

Ironic, indeed. Order blueberry pancakes at Healthy Food (or, as neighborhood folks call it, "Healthy Foods") and the first three questions asked by the waitress are: "Do you want meat?" "Do you want cheese?" "Do you want sour cream?" If we have food deserts in Chicago, this place is a blooming garden.

Chuck

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:08:16 -0600

Sarah: No need to apologize for the photograph. I appreciate the shout out whenever I can get it, and am certain that Gina at Healthy Food would revel in the irony.

karczek

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:53:38 -0600

It's not like 'COLOSSAL FOOD EMPORIUM' is the only model for grocery sales either. Smaller stores can do a lot of things bigger stores can't and if several small stores band together, they can leverage decent prices from distributors as well. While I was in Brazil, I immediately noticed that in many places, every block had it's own small grocery. Most all were tidy and friendly (They knew my mother in law by name). Some had a pretty impressive selection, including fresh foods, while others focused more on bakery, produce or meat in addition to a selection of delicacies. The main point was that groceries were always nearby and if one store didn't have something, the one across the street probably did. The prices were usually competitive with the big supermarkets, and like I mentioned, the community aspect was refreshing. In contrast, having lived on the south side, I remember walking into corner "grocery" stores filled top to bottom with nothing but crap. Everything processed, nothing but a sucking nutritional void rife with old products and generally high prices. Moreover, the proprietors often treated customers antagonistically. It was like watching 'Do the Right Thing' unfold before me. Of course, the whole problem is too multifaceted to throw all the blame on a single party. Still, in poorer areas of the city, it's absurd that the relationship between residents and would-be food providers (Hell, with food itself...) is so deeply dysfunctional.

Sarah

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 17:07:22 -0600

Actually, skimble, the photo was tagged for Chicagoist AND South Side and was not used with any ironic intentions on my part at all. I apologize for the misconception.

Sarah

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 16:58:41 -0600

NSH, I'll take lower taxes please. And in her 848 interview, Mari brought up that we don't have to be encouraging big box retailers or major chains to open up locations on the south side. We just simply need to be encouraging ANYONE to open up a full-service grocery store, in underserved areas. You could open up NSH Mart if you like. I'd shop there.

skimble

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 16:55:10 -0600

"Healthy food heh heh heh" says Beavis & Butthead. I object to the photograph which has nothing at all to do with the issues in the study. It's a real restaurant run by a real neighborhood businessperson who may not appreciate the faux-ironic stance that was apparently your intention.

NSH

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 16:10:04 -0600

Sarah, I like your point, but wouldn't offering incentives to a "big box" store fly in the face of the proposed referendum? Would the city be the ones covering the gap between living wage and minimum wage by offering incentives? Or better yet, how about lower taxes so that a person could survive eat healthy, and live well while making $7 an hour.

Sarah

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:58:20 -0600

This study is attempting to show that people die earlier of obesity-related diseases in poorer neighborhoods, and that it is potentially caused by the abudance of fast food restaurants and the lack of fresh foods available. And it just so happens that in Chicago, the majority of the people living in these underserved neighborhoods are also African-American. In my opinion, Mari is right when she says the city should provide incentives for retailers to spread into neighborhoods, but it would also require finding some magical way to boost income, reduce crime and provide nutritional education all at the same time.

Bleeding Heart

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:49:23 -0600

I am not sure what this study is attempting to prove. That grocery store chains discriminate? I don't think that's the case. I am sure that stores would be there if they could be ensured that they could make money.

NSH

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:06:34 -0600

Unfortunatly the politics of John Mackey would probably lead to less than stellar store performance on 119th st. Food 4 Less has a huge market opportunity on the South Side, if Jewel and Dominicks don't want the market, they are going to take it.