Local food market commits to healthier options as part of Healthy Corner Store Project

A local food market is getting a make-over. Mi Mexico, located at 1760 W. Algonquin Road in Mount Prospect, is participating in the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Healthy Corner Store Program for Suburban Cook County.

Through the program, Mi Mexico introduced six new healthy foods items to the store's inventory. CPPW offered assistance in identifying healthier food options as well as potential distributors who could deliver fresh, healthy food items. Healthy food items include: fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy, lean meats and proteins, whole grain breads and pastas, and canned or frozen fruits or vegetables. Francisco Perez, owner of Mi Mexico, has operated the business for twenty years with his wife. Adding healthier food items was not very challenging because his suppliers offered healthy options. He also found that the healthy foods sold well. “Customers have been more interested in healthy items and have been demanding them,” said Perez.

Once new healthy food choices were introduced, the staff from CPPW assessed the store and made recommendations to improve the layout of the merchandise and to help people identify healthy food options. A freezer for frozen fruits & vegetables, produce scale, produce bins, and baskets will be purchased through the program. CPPW staff also recommended grouping healthy foods together on shelves. The changes to the store's layout and equipment are meant to better display healthy food items and to assist shoppers in making healthy decisions. Look for changes to the store in the next couple weeks.

CPPW is a venture lead through the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago. The funding for the program is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The purpose of CPPW is to promote active lifestyles and access to healthy foods.

Look for the “Healthy HotSpot” logo for stores that have participated in the Healthy HotSpot program. For more information about CPPW and its programs, visit: http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org/healthy-initiatives.