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Changing Lives: One Apple At A Time

Foodie Friday

Feb 17, 2012 by Girl Friends

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Today’s Foodie Friday takes a different focus. Have you ever heard of a “food desert?”

I hadn’t until a few weeks ago when my girlfriend Deborah and I saw the documentary film The Apple Pushers at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. I walked into the theatre expecting to see a movie about food carts in New York. I walked out with an appreciation of how a small “green cart” can change people’s lives.

I also left with the a greater understanding that knowledge alone will not right obesity. Nor will information on how to eat healthy lead to nutritious food choices. Oh sure it’s important to know about the food groups or the new “food plate.” However, easy and affordable access to fruits and vegetables is often the critical missing link.

As I munch on an apple while writing this post (I sprinkled a little cinnamon over the pieces..so yum!), it sounds so simple but in reality it’s not always the case.

So what is a food desert? In the simplest of explanations it’s an urban or rural area that doesn’t have local access to healthy, fresh food. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) 10% of the country is now a food desert. Mind boggling.

If you look around at the residents of a food desert you might feel a disconnect. People don’t look emaciated. In fact, they often appear quite the opposite .. like a Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers opportunity. However, healthy issues are often not obvious. Some people are walking high blood pressure time bombs while others may have diabetes or diseases that might be attributed to too much fast food, too much junk food, too much food that clogs the arteries.

Back to the film. The Apple Pushers follows the lives of five immigrant, street vendors who take part in an innovative program, Green Cart, sponsored by New York City. Through their stories we experience not only their hopes and aspirations but those of the people in the communities where they set up their stores on wheels.

Although it address a serious issue of our times, it’s an uplifting film that reinforces the American dream .. where working hard and providing the right product and the best service to your customers can create a better life. Not only for you but your family and your community.

And reminds us that as Bando, one of the vendors, says, “If you have a dream just do it.”

Top NYC Chefs are supporting the Green Cart imitative by contributing their recipes in The NYC Green Cart Cookbook! Free download. I encourage you to click and save .. there are some great recipes.

Learn more about Food Deserts: The Economist Mari Gallagher at TedX Nine US Urban Food Deserts USDA Food Desert Locator

Follow the Apple Pusher Director: Mary Mazzio Twitter

About the Author

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All The Single Girlfriends is a social content destination for single girlfriends over 40 who are meeting life with style and denial! Each of us, along with you, brings a unique idea of what it means to be single after the big 4-0 birthday. There is not one right way to do that. However, we double dare anyone to deny that women over 40 are not fun and fabulous!

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