The Trenton Times published the following article on November 2, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Bodegas, corner stores in Trenton pledge to stock more healthy food
By Bridget Clerkin/The Times of Trenton
on November 02, 2013 at 7:10 AMTRENTON – There’s a big weight problem facing the city’s children today, but local officials and organizations believe the answer might be just around the corner — literally.
Bodegas and corner stores across Trenton’s North Ward officially joined the fight against childhood obesity in the city yesterday, pledging their shelf space to more healthy foods
like fruits, salads and yogurts in hopes of delivering better options to the families — and especially the children — who rely on the stores for quick, easy access to food.
Organized by the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, the program, part of the Trenton Healthy Food Network, officially kicked off yesterday in front of Monchy’s Deli on North Clinton Avenue. Already selling a number of healthy products for several weeks now, the store’s owner, Ramon Gomez, can barely keep the nutritious stuff in stock, he said.
“The kids are really enthusiastic. They keep picking the fruits, the salads, and asking when we will be getting more,” Gomez said through a translator at the event. “I have a daughter in the Trenton school system, so I was motivated to help; as a parent, and as a resident, I wanted to contribute to the community, to make this a better city.”
Gomez is joined in his participation by the owners of three other Trenton establishments, Andy’s Food Plus; Freddy’s Deli Grocery; and Trenton Meat Farms. And, according to Freeholder Sam Frisby, the city will need everyone they can to help combat the problem.