Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday Feel Good News

It's Friday, and in my books, that means it's time to feel good. Let's set aside the doom-and-gloom stories for a moment and focus on some good news!

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It's been a while since I posted a video, and this one will definitely reward your patience! Check out the incredible story of a fresh food market on wheels that brings healthy produce to a food desert (a neighbourhood with severely limited access to fresh fruits and veggies) in Chicago:



I can't get over how delighted the boy is when he bites into the apple, like he's never had one, or it's been so long he couldn't remember the taste, smell, texture, and juiciness of it. A mobile produce stand like this could combat food deserts in every city. With adequate funding and a donated bus, this model can be replicated anywhere. I even think the contents of the market could be tailored to the neighbourhood being served such that culturally appropriate produce is available to the communities that traditionally cook with ingredients not commonly found in Western supermarkets. A market on wheels targeting specific neighbourhoods could meet that need.

For more information on this incredible project, check out the Fresh Moves website and enjoy this Feel Good News Friday!

6 comments:

  1. Very cool. And a fantastic idea!

    Now, if we could just get the to use an electric bus...

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  2. Haha, yes, that would be the next step. Well if the TTC were to donate a bus, it could be one of their diesel-electric hybrids!

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  3. I love it! I reposted the video on Twitter after I saw it. It just makes bringing fresh, healthy food into people's lives so feasible and simple. I'm sure there's not a whole lot of money in it, but how wonderful it would be if our government would divert the money they put towards adjusting the stupid food pyramid diagram to a realistic, actionable solution instead.

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  4. What an amazing concept! If only there was funding for this project to come to other cities and neighborhoods throughout the world. I loved watching the boy eat the apple too-love that he liked it!

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  5. Jennifer: Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for sharing it with your followers on Twitter! Yes, it would be incredible if our governments spent even a small amount of money on projects like this rather than subsidizing processed foods containing HFCS!!!

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  6. Lori: There probably is funding that applies to projects like this, but until enough people get together and put in a proposal (and are awarded with the funds), nothing will happen. I was thinking about how unfortunate it is for me that Fresh Moves is based in Chicago. It's too far for a quick road trip to meet with them and ask how they did it! If ever I end up in the Windy City I will try very hard to arrange a meeting. :)

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