In the News

At Romanos Grocery, a small bodega in northeast Philadelphia, former staples like beef jerky are suddenly hard to find. Thats because last December, Juan Carlos Romano renovated his old establishment and 'created what many hope will become a national model: the healthy corner store.

With assistance from Philadelphias Food Trust, a food advocacy group, Romano is pairing a sustainable makeoverlow-energy coolers and lightswith a transformation of his stores wares, from packaged and processed to fresh and healthy. Studies have found that for each additional supermarket in a given area, fruit and vegetable consumption increases by as much as 32 percent. By increasing access to fresh produce in Romanos neighborhood, the Food Trust hopes it can improve community health and, if the plan works, expand the program to other areas.

Theres no official verdict on the stores success yet, but David Nixon, a diabetic and regular customer, was pleased on opening day: Id rather have an apple than a Little Debbie, he says.

For more information, see GOOD Magazine: Corner Store Cornucopia