Evie's Desk: Fresh & Easy in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles County, it's a well-known fact that low-income neighborhoods frequently lack an adequate number of grocery stores, something that forces residents to travel longer distances to buy food. Those same neighborhoods have a plentiful supply of fast food restaurants, adding to our growing obesity problem. Because of this, I have been encouraged to see that several new "Fresh & Easy" supermarkets will be springing up in some local underserved communities.

The "Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market" chain is a British import spearheaded by leading retailer Tesco, the third-largest food retailer in the world. Tesco's goal is to open six Fresh & Easy grocery stores in Southern California, Phoenix, and Las Vegas by the end of this month, with up to 100 expected to open within a year.

L.A. County cities slated to receive a Fresh & Easy include Glassell Park, Lakewood, La Mirada, Covina, and Simi Valley, among others. Tesco has promised to continue to open stores in underserved areas, although none have been planned for the most in need, including South L.A. and Compton.

What is encouraging is that this new neighborhood store is committed to providing customers with fresh, wholesome food at affordable prices. They're also showing a commitment to the environment by keeping down waste and using LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) technology.

It is my hope that the chain will hold true to its promise and continue to open in traditionally underserved areas. Having accessible fresh fruits and vegetables is the key to good health and imperative in the fight against childhood obesity.

Evelyn V. Martinez
Executive Director
First 5 LA

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