Center for Food & Justice
Blogging about GAP
Panel on Food Deserts
Deserted: How to Solve the Crisis of Poor Access to Healthy Food, California Endowment, May 1, 2008.
For more information
Amanda Shaffer
shaffer@oxy.edu
323.259.2759
Grocery Accountability Project
The Grocery Accountability Project (GAP) engages in research, policy development, and coalition-building work around the food retail sector. The goal of the GAP is to ratchet up the performance and accountability of food retail corporations in five critical areas:
Food Access
Full-service supermarkets should commit to open stores in low-income, high-poverty neighborhoods that have been traditionally underserved.
Labor Standards
Employees of grocery stores should have the right to a livable wage--sufficient pay, the ability to work full time and benefits including health care. Workers rights could best be ensured by encouraging a union relationship.
Environment and Health
Grocery stores should adopt environmentally friendly practices including: green building certification; encouragement of walking and biking and a shuttle service for customers without cars; sustainable land use and design
Supply Chain
Supermarkets should purchase locally grown/sourced products whenever possible, minimizing environmental impact from food transport as well as supporting local farmers.
Labeling
Nutrition, country of origin labeling (COOL), organic certification, and other labeling should be consistent, verifiable and useful to consumers.
GAP Reports
Tesco
UEPI's August 2007 report, Shopping for a Market, examines the global food retailer's entrance into the United States. It compares the company's promises to its track record in the U.K. and other countries where it does business. The November 2007 supplement provides an update on Tesco's Environmental and Food Access committments.
Executive Summary (270K)
Full Report: Screen Resolution (1.36MB) | Print Resolution (4MB)
Report update (1.3MB)
Listen to the August 2nd Press Conference on the report release.
L.A.'s Grocery Gap
UEPI's 2002 report on the persisting lack of supermarkets in LA's low-income communities. Includes an update of plans for change following the 1992 civil unrest, causes and symptoms of food deserts, as well as policy reccomendations for the future.
The Persistance of L.A.'s Grocery Gap (1.2 MB)