Corner Store Initiative

  

Latest News

Healthy on th Block Promotion!! Purchase $25 worth of groceries at participating  Healthy on the Block Corner Stores in East Boston and receive a healthy approved item. Support your community by finding our coupon in the East Boston Times or El Planeta newspaper (ads will be running through  March 13), and redeem it at any of the following stores:  Alfaro Market Million Market El Tio Supermarket El Paisa Butchery Two Brothers Market Raymond Grocery Store Mi Tierra Market Go Bananas!! Beginning this Saturday, Bananas will be available at Worlds Best Food Market in Mattapan. Support  your local store! Visit Worlds Best Food Market at 645 River Street. Healthy on the Block Store Make over: Worlds Best Food Market (645 River street, Mattapan) Recently, the team rolled up their sleeves and along with Chris, owner of Worlds Best Food Market, did a store makeover. The crew cleaned, cleared shelves, and created a space that consists of  Healthy on the Block approved items, which means they are healthier choices for families in the neighborhood at a reasonable price. Please click on our blog for more information Please support Worlds Best Food Market  by spreading the word to friends, family, and co workers and encouraging them to visit the store  to provide feedback  on how the store looks and what kind of produce the store should consider selling in 2012. Worlds Best Food market is located on 645 River street in  Mattapan. Healthy on the Block branding: Please visit Healthy on the Block pariticipating stores to find our branding materials. Branding materials include ceiling hangers, window clings, aisle banners, produce labels, and healthy on the Block Approve stickers. Healthy on the Block approve items cosist of fruits and vegetables and shelve items  that consist of Less than 10 grams of sugar per serving Minimum of 2 grams of fiber per serving Maximum of 200 calories per serving For more information, visit any of the eleven Corner  stores or contact a Healthy on the Block representative.

Selection Process
Initial outreach was conducted to corner store owners in target areas in order to develop relationships and assess the level of interest to participate in the project. This assessment focused on responses to questions regarding interest in health of community, level of involvement in community, and willingness to work with community members. Based on these responses, pilot sites will be selected for the Corner Store Initiative.
Participant Criteria
	Selected corner stores will be expected to meet certain criteria as part of the pilot program.  Corner store owners must be committed to participating for a minimum of six months.  During this period, corner store owners will also be responsible for stocking fresh produce and healthier options, displaying marketing materials, labeling and promoting healthy items, maintaining cleanliness of the store, and participating in technical assistance/training opportunities provided by SAH.
Assistance and Support
	Participating corner stores will not be expected to meet these criteria on their own.  The Corner Store Initiative will provide assistance and support to corner store owners in a collaborative effort to increase access to healthful affordable foods in local corner stores.  This assistance will include provision of 1-on-1 outreach, incentives and technical assistance on points of access, and product placement and marketing strategies to participating corner stores in order to increase availability of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.