FOR MANY OF US YOU EAT
HEALTHIER BUT THERE IS A LOVE
FOR JUNK FOOD.
THERE IS ANOTHER OBSTACLE AS
WELL, NOT ENOUGH GROCERY STORES
THAT SELL HEALTHY FOOD.
IT WAS DONE BY BLUE CROSS AND
BLUE SHIELD OF MINNESOTA.
NOT HAVING A GROCERY STORE
NEARBY THAT SELLS IT IS
IMPACTING WHAT THEY EAT.
73% SAID DIFFICULTY FINDING
HEALTHY FOOD ON THE GO IN THE
FLUTES THEIR EATING DECISIONS
AS WELL.
ANGELA DAVIS HAS MORE ON THE
FINDINGS AND POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS.
Reporter: IT IS CALLED THE
GROCERY GAP.
A LACK OF STORES E THAT PEOPLE
CAN GO TO TO BUY FRESH FRUIT
AND VEGETABLES AND WHOLE
GRAINS.
WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR AS
YOU SEE FROM THE DATA FROM THE
POLLING THAT NEARLY HALF THE
PEOPLE SAY NOT HAVING A GROCERY
STORE NEARBY THAT SERVES
HEALTHY FOOD IS IMPACTING WHAT
THEY SERVE THEMSELVES AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
SHE WORKED ON THE SURVEY.
WE HEARD PEOPLE ARE
TRAVELING UP TO TEN MINUTES TO
GET TO A GROCERY STORE THAT
SERVES HEALTHY FOODS AND FOR
SOME THAT PRESENTS A CHALLENGE
BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
Reporter: IN RURAL AREAS IT
CAN BE EVEN LONGER.
NEIGHBORHOOD STORES OFTEN HAD
LIMITED OPTIONS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
CONVENIENCE STORES WHICH IT IS
ALERT HARDER FOR THOSE STORES
TO CARRY FRESH PRODUCE SO THAT
IS WHERE THE REAL BARRIERS LIE.
Reporter: SHE SAID THE
SURVEY FINDINGS SHOW EVIDENCE
THAT THE PEOPLE WILL BUY IT IF
THEY ARE OFFERED.
THE HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL COME
TOGETHER AND FIND WAYS TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING IN
MINNESOTA TRYING TO GET A
HEALTHY FOOD INITIATIVE.
THAT IS WHERE PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE DOLLARS ARE POOLED AND
THEN LOW INTEREST LOANS AND
GRANTS ARE GIVEN TO COMMUNITIES
AND TO RETAIL ERS WHO WANT TO
OPEN UP IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.
IN 2013, GREATER MINNESOTA
LOST 14% OF ITS GROCERY STORES.
