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WARD / NEIGHBORHOOD /ADDRESS # Ward Neighborhood Address 1. All Wards BACKGROUND ANALYSIS Background: In Minneapolis, low-income residents and communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and other health issues. One contributing factor to these disparities is poor nutrition. Knowing what healthy foods to eat is important, but having access to healthy food options matters too. While it’s easy to find healthy foods at a supermarket, in the Twin Cities Metro area, an estimated 991,177 residents live more than one mile from a large grocery store, supermarket, or supercenter.[1] As well, many areas that lack healthy food retailers are also oversaturated with fast-food restaurants, liquor stores, and other sources of inexpensive, processed food with little to no nutritional value.[2] Lack of access to fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and other foods low in fat, sodium, and sugar can be a significant barrier for individuals and families trying to achieve
- verall good health and to prevent chronic disease.
Over the last decade, the City of Minneapolis has implemented a variety of evidence-based strategies to ensure that people have access to affordable, high quality, nutritious foods such as:
- Increasing the acceptance of SNAP/EBT food assistance benefits at farmers markets;
- Facilitating access to mobile grocery stores in areas of low food access;
- Promoting urban agriculture through zoning code amendments; and
- Adopting healthy food standards in government buildings.
The Minneapolis “staple foods ordinance” (Minneapolis Code of Ordinances Title 10 Chapter 203: Grocery Stores) is one part of this comprehensive approach. The ordinance, originally adopted in 2008 and significantly revised in 2014, sets minimum stocking standards for licensed grocery stores in the city. Currently, licensed grocery stores in Minneapolis – including supermarkets and co-ops, as well as most corner stores, gas stations, discount stores, pharmacies and general retailers – must stock a minimum quantity and variety of foods in ten categories including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. These requirements, based on the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program standards and aligned with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, ensure that residents can find healthier options regardless of where they shop. Since the revised
- rdinance was implemented in April 2015, the Health Department has provided education,