The tweet was food related (as so many of them are). A very engaging actress commented on how expensive (and tasty) food was at a particular grocery chain, and went on to say that she was "just trying to eat right". For some of us, taste and goodness beats affordability everyday. With the means to pay, we can choose what we want from the menu.
I asked her (very publicly mind you), if she'd consider engaging in work related to food deserts and obesity with said grocer. Not working for the grocer, and not being even an acquaintance of hers, I recognize that my query was at once presumptuous, and very forward, but I think it was worth the shot. Talented, engaging spokes-people can help drive traffic and therefore drive behavior change - companies use this rationale regularly. In this case, if a partnership was to develop b/w said grocer, and a corner-store in a financially strapped neighborhood, and be promoted by an advocate (like the actress), then we might see a couple things happen. For starters, as a "pseudo-satellite" to the high-end "good" grocery store, the bodega would have to adjust it's selections so there were less processed foods on the shelves. Next, prices would be placed in line with (previously sold) similar products. Last, there could be some sort of shelf labeling implemented so that diabetics, for example, would know that this aisle has food that is in line with what your healthcare provider suggested you eat as you work on bringing your blood sugar down.
Sure, I'm pitching something here, because I believe it can work. If you have the connects to make this happen very soon, keep me posted on how it goes so we can learn from your experience. The only way to do it is to try it. Walmart, Target, Whole Foods...my number is 443-....
PV
I asked her (very publicly mind you), if she'd consider engaging in work related to food deserts and obesity with said grocer. Not working for the grocer, and not being even an acquaintance of hers, I recognize that my query was at once presumptuous, and very forward, but I think it was worth the shot. Talented, engaging spokes-people can help drive traffic and therefore drive behavior change - companies use this rationale regularly. In this case, if a partnership was to develop b/w said grocer, and a corner-store in a financially strapped neighborhood, and be promoted by an advocate (like the actress), then we might see a couple things happen. For starters, as a "pseudo-satellite" to the high-end "good" grocery store, the bodega would have to adjust it's selections so there were less processed foods on the shelves. Next, prices would be placed in line with (previously sold) similar products. Last, there could be some sort of shelf labeling implemented so that diabetics, for example, would know that this aisle has food that is in line with what your healthcare provider suggested you eat as you work on bringing your blood sugar down.
Sure, I'm pitching something here, because I believe it can work. If you have the connects to make this happen very soon, keep me posted on how it goes so we can learn from your experience. The only way to do it is to try it. Walmart, Target, Whole Foods...my number is 443-....
PV
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