Webinar: Healthy Corner Store Initiatives

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4th FROM 2:00PM TO 3H30PM

This webinar is the third in a series of conversations around food access and policy within our network and we invite you to take part. To learn more about the Food Access Peer Learning Circle (PLC) and how to be involved please contact Bronwyn Clement, bronwyn@sustainontario.ca

Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, March 4th from 2:00-3:30pm to hear from public health practitioners and policy analysts, in a discussion of various pilot projects and public policy initiatives working to increase access to healthy foods through one of the most ubiquitous grocery environments: corner stores. Go directly to the registration page.

While many healthy retail projects and resources have sprouted in the US, this food access strategy is also gaining traction in Ontario and across Canada. TheOntario Food & Nutrition Strategy has called for “increased access to public information about healthy eating through retailers and food service.” Similarly, the Healthy Kids Strategy has articulated a series of recommendations for changing the food environment from providing incentives for food retailers to develop stores in food deserts and encouraging food retailers to adopt transparent and easy-to-understand nutrition rating systems for the products in their stores.

While part of this conversation is about access to better labeling and nutrition education in retail outlets, the larger issue of access – the where and how people are accessing fresh and healthy foods – is at the crux of the food access conversation. This webinar will explore both projects and policies that support corner stores in stocking more healthy products – especially fresh fruits and vegetables – through layout redesign and infrastructure adjustments. Healthy corner store initiatives are part of a larger discussion of how municipalities (or the province?) can use various policy tools, from land use planning and zoning to economic (re)development to promote a healthier food retail environment.