By Paul Tuthill
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Boston, MA – A new task force has been assembled in Massachusetts to recommend ways to bring supermarkets to underserved areas. This is in response to a new analysis that found people who live in urban centers and in some rural areas of the state don't have easy access to fresh, nutritious food WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports
Representatives of state government, health advocates and the supermarket industry will work on ways to bring more full service supermarkets to low income communities in Massachusetts, where a new report says there is a severe shortage. Valerie Bassett, the executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association says it is no coincidence these same communities have high rates of obesity, diabetes and other nutrition related health problems..
The report prepared by the Food Trust, a non profit based in Philadelphia said several urban areas, including Springfield, have 30 percent fewer supermarkets per person than the national average.
Low income communities, the report said, have many convenience stores and bodegas that stock a selection of mostly processed and packaged foods Supermarkets are concentrated along major highways in suburban areas. That can mean a long bus ride for inner city residents to buy groceries, according to Bassett
Bassett praised Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for making progress in attracting supermarkets to some of that city's poorer neighborhoods, but she said more needs be done on a bigger scale
Christopher Flynn, president of the Massachusetts Food Association, which represents the supermarket industry, says the cost of acquiring land and high crime rates are the key impediments to new stores in urban areas
Flynn believes Massachusetts could follow the lead of Pennsylvania, which put together a public-private partnership that offered low cost financing for supermarkets to open in poorer communities..
Community advocates have tried for decades to bring a full service supermarket to the inner city Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield. The neighborhoods city councilor, E. Henry Twiggs says it should be an economic development priority .
A food policy council, created by Springfield's mayor in 2009, was also charged with finding ways to expand access to fresh nutritious food.