As I have mentioned previously, bodegas are a primary source for food in East and Central Harlem. Actually, 2 in 3 stores in those areas are bodegas, compared to 1 in 3 on the Upper East Side, just one neighborhood over. We can glean that bodegas are an important source of food for people living in those areas.
However, bodegas have limited healthy food options. For example, 1 in 3 bodegas in East and Central Harlem provides skim milk, but whole milk, rich in saturated fat and calories, is available in 90% of Central Harlem bodegas, and 82% of East Harlem bodegas.
The statistics for fruit are similar: 1 in 3 Harlem bodegas, as well as Upper East Side bodegas, carry apples, oranges OR bananas.
More alarmingly, only 2% of Central Harlem bodegas, and 4% of East Harlem bodegas carry leafy green vegetables.
Bodegas are a central part of NYC. They cannot, and should not, be eliminated, despite the health issues associated with them.
Bodegas need to be revamped. They need to carry a variety of produce, as well as low fat dairy. The overflowing candy bars and chip displays should be put in the back, and replaced with a fruit display. Rather than 50c candy, 20c bananas should adorn the counter.
But bodegas are businesses, and a business’ main goal is to create a profit. How does the manager know that produce will even sell? Bodegas have very small profit margins, and are unwilling to take risks. Chips, candy, pastries and chocolate sell. Produce doesn’t. That’s probably because the fruit on display is sad, rotting, and old. It is hidden behind flashing advertisements for lottery tickets, cigarettes, and Twinkies.
Bodegas need a push, a financial incentive. Tax breaks or grants would motivate these stores to start carrying healthy foods, and displaying them prominently.
Philadelphia has already jumped on the issue of bodegas. The Food Trust, a non-profit organization, has launched the Healthy Corner Store Initiative in order to increase healthy food access in food deserts. Learn more in this video:
The Harlem Food Project 