Friday, 14 November 2014

 

Public health partners in stores?


When governments shirk a responsibility as basic as public health, as in this period of rabid anti-tax anti-government neoliberalism what can we do?

We have been exposed to many toxins throughout our lives that effect our health in a negative way. These toxins are in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the products we buy, including our food. Therefore it makes sense for stores to educate the  public about harmful effects of many products.

We finally have stores in Mississauga that get this. Our own locally grown Good ness Me Market just opened its doors in the heart of Britannia Village (at Mavis and Bristol).

This is the fourth of the Goodness Me supermarkets (after 2 in the Hamilton-Burlington area)> Started by Janet Jackes from Hamilton, Good ness Me has proved that so-called suburbia does not have to be either a food desert or a home for mega-stores filled with mostly imported ”in-organic” processed foods.  This store is supported by local farm-friendly staff and offers prices lower than those in surrounding supermarkets.

It may be surprising to some that a progressive supermarket like Goodness Me is appearing in traditionally unfashionable suburban locations, but as communications have brought us increasingly closer in recent years  it is truer than ever that we live in one world and none are more privileged than others in making it better. Less important than where improvements come from  is that they come. Because it reaches those like supermarket shoppers, who may be outside the reach of policy messaging, market embedded social economy initiatives have a role to play that cannot be ignored.  
Quality, affordability and public health: it can be done. There is still much to do but Goodness Me makes the point.         

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