Emanuel discusses food deserts with grocery execs

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says it’s unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of residents live in food deserts, without access to fresh food.

Emanuel met Wednesday with executives from six grocery chains, including Walgreens, Walmart and Aldi. They talked about eliminating food deserts in six Chicago neighborhoods. Emanuel says 450,000 Chicagoan’s don’t have access to fresh food.

Emanuel showed a detailed map of Chicago food deserts and made business cases to the grocery executives for specific properties in each food desert area.

The grocery executives discussed future plans to expand in Chicago food desert areas.

Both Emanuel and the grocery executives talked about obstacles for expansion, including transportation, security, real estate and bureaucracy.