Mayor Evans explains healthy food initiative after Rite Aid closure – RochesterFirst

A healthy diet includes a variety of foods to maintain good health. Choose mainly foods low in added sugars, fat and sodium. Choose whole grains – breads and cereals made from wheat, barley, rye or quinoa; add fruit and vegetables to meals; eat lean meats, fish or poultry without skin, unsalted nuts or seeds; drink low-fat milk, yogurt or fortified soy beverage.

Editor’s Note: You can watch the full press conference in the video player at the bottom of this article.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Following the announcement of Rite Aid closing its Portland Avenue location, Mayor Evans discussed a local grant program aimed at addressing issues of healthy food accessibility.

Mayor Evans was joined by members of Rochester’s City Council and Commissioner Dana Miller of the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development to discuss the Healthy Food Grant Program.

The program, according to Mayor Evans, will provide investments to expand the services of existing food retailers to increase healthy options and provide equipment to store and display these foods.

“We’re done playing defense and we want to be on offense. This healthy food accessibility program allows us to play offense,” Evans said.

The program will be available for businesses such as neighborhood markets, meat markets, small-scale grocers, specialty food stores, and restaurants serving healthy food. These businesses can apply for a Notice of Funding Availability and submit it before Friday, May 19 at 4 p.m.

“Store-after-store when we go inside, we see shelves full of salty chips, candy, and soft drinks. We don’t see vegetables and fruits,” Miller said. “Part of our goal here is to make that possible.”

This comes a little under one week after Rite Aid announced it will be closing its location on Portland Ave. The closure is scheduled for Wednesday. A spokesperson said the closure is due to several factors including business conditions, lease and rent, and store performance.

Mayor Evans said that the city worked in an attempt to keep the store open and that Rite Aid is obligated to inform the community before making the decision to close. He added that he is disappointed that the store is closing and that they were told at the last minute.

“Residents relied on this store for prescriptions, basic necessities, and school supplies. Stores like this one serve as an anchor to the community,” Evans said. “This is a disappointment to the community. It will have a devastating effect on the neighborhood that already has a scarce accessibility to food, poor health outcomes, and also high unemployment.”

Mayor Evans said that the city has resources and staff to help stores like Rite Aid stay and grow in Rochester.