Restoring Nashville, a project of Manna – Food Security Partners,
has launched Grocery Stories, an innovative approach to educating our region on
the successes and inequities of our food system.
A report from June, 2009 found that 22% of households in the United States are located in low income urban areas at a distance of 1/2 to 1 mile from a supermarket — with no access to a vehicle.
Grocery Stories is an interactive story-telling project that collects personal
accounts of how people in Nashville shop for, prepare and share healthy, fresh
foods through an online portal and personal interviews. The project asks participants to recount a recent or memorable trip to buy fresh foods, what did they buy, did they find what they were looking for, were they happy with the quality and how these foods play a part in their life with family, friends and their community.
Next, participants are asked to give a narrative of how they accessed fresh
foods and whether they had any problems finding fresh foods. The program aims to
help participants evaluate their ability to access fresh foods for themselves and their family. By collecting these personal stories, Grocery Stories will bring a clearer picture of how Nashville shops for fresh foods, the disparities within our food system and how good food bonds our families and communities.
Re/Storing Nashville is a faith-based program that brings awareness, and
encourages action, for an equitable food system that provides healthy food access for all Nashvillians.
Manna/Food Security Partners brings people together to create and sustain
a secure and healthy food system for their region, from production to consumption.
For more information contact program director Miriam Leibowitz, 615-498-7926,
miriam@restoringnashville.org
