National grocery retailer Supervalu, whose Albertsons brand stores are one of our regional grocery options, recently announced they will enact a "zero waste" model at 40 of their stores. The eco-friendly move will begin with primarily focusing on Albertsons stores, says TreeHugger.
Some Albertsons Stores to Go 'Zero Waste'
Grocery Guessing Game: Will Echo Park Get a Trader Joe's or a Fresh & Easy?
The gentrification of Echo Park continues, as evidenced by the guessing game du jour covered by The Eastsider LA today: Will a Trader Joe's or a Fresh & Easy move into the vacated Save A Lot space? Ready, set: Speculate!
Ramona Gardens' Lone Market Sells Rotten Food at Jacked Up Prices. What is the Real Cost for the Community?
NPR's "All Things Considered" profiled the East L.A. community of Ramon Gardens yesterday, shining a spotlight on the city's oldest housing project's lack of food options. Unlike in South L.A., where civic leaders are trying to tame the omnipresent fast food beast and lure in grocers, this community doesn't even have a bunch of lousy liquor stores or burger stands.
Map: Where Are America's Food Deserts?
The term "food desert" refers to a geographic area where residents don't have easy access to fresh, affordable food, namely supermarkets. In these areas fast and convenient food is typically more readily available and consumed, making those areas the target of scrutiny, particularly if the area is urban, for policy about food access.
A New Kind of Farmers Market Sprout-ing Up in SoCal
Sprouts Farmers Markets are opening in California at a time that is both fortuitous and a bit dubious. The chain of warehouse-style markets proffering locally-sourced produce and other health and eco-conscious oriented groceries is taking advantage of business failures--Circuit City, Linens 'n Things, Mervyns--for their retail spaces, but the company itself hails from Arizona.
Will Whole Foods at Tarzana Village Walk Invigorate the Neighborhood? High Hopes for Store that Opened Yesterday
The new Whole Foods Market in Tarzana made its debut yesterday with a ribbon-cutting (bread-breaking) ceremony and event attended by Mayor Villaraigosa and many more. There are high hopes the anchor tenant of the Village Walk mixed-used development will invigorate the community, reports the Daily News.
Greenpeace Releases Supermarket Seafood Sustainability Scorecard. How Well Did Your Grocery Store Do?
A scorecard released today by Greenpeace examines American supermarket chains and to what extent their seafood business is practiced sustainably.
Trader Joe's Bows to Greenpeace Pressure, Pledges to Adopt Sustainable Seafood Policies
After months of pressure from Greenpeace, South Pasadena-based Trader Joe's has promised they will "green up their stores" by putting in place "sustainable seafood policies," according to the environmental group.
Whole Foods' Month-long Produce Drive to Benefit LA Foodbank
'Tis the season to give thanks for what so many of us have, and to take some time, effort, and, if possible, funds to help out those who may be less fortunate. Right now organizations focused on feeding those who are in need are in need of donations from those who can afford to spare, and this includes our local LA Regional Foodbank.
Grocery Store Disparities in East & South LA
LA Update, a daily weekday update on what's going on at City Hall (aired on Channel 35) reported today a common fact still needing to be addressed: healthy grocery stores are harder to come by in lower income parts of the city. "A newly released report urges Los Angeles city leaders to encourage major grocery chains to open the same quality stores in low income communities. The Alliance for Healthy and Responsible Grocery Stores report found, unlike on the Westside, residents in East and South Los Angeles and parts of the San Fernando Valley have to drive several miles for low-cost healthy food. In what maybe a sign of some progress, Councilmember Jan Perry helped break ground last week on a new mixed use development project on Central Avenue that will include a Fresh and Easy supermarket."
Fresh & Easy Manhattan Beach Store Open Today
Fresh & Easy opened its 62nd US "neighborhood market" this morning in Manhattan Beach which began with a press conference and store tours and a ribbon cutting ceremony before the waiting crowds descended upon the grocery store to fill their carts. (More story after the jump!)
Extra, Extra: Bird On a Wire
Time to Take Back That Shopping Cart
Did you know that February is Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month?
February is National Return Shopping Carts, Milk Crates, and Bread Trays Month
Not only is February Call Your East Coast Friends To Tell Them What The Weather's Like Here Month, but thanks to this post on Metafilter, we learn that it's also Return Shopping Carts Month.

