Detroit Food Policy Council

Category: Education & Engagement

bookmark_borderLocal Food Processors Are Getting Ready for Spring

Posted on by Contributing Member

By Contributing Member Dr. Velonda Anderson, Ph.D.

Spring has sprung and food processors are shifting their menu for seasonal offerings and preparation for the Farmers’ Market season. Detroit is feeling the ongoing energy as new plant-based friendly restaurants pop up all over town.

This year, food manufacturers can expect to see many of the same ongoing trends, but others will emerge this year as the ramifications from COVID-19 continue to be felt across industries. Innovation in sustainability practices will be a top priority as manufacturers adapt to growing consumer demands and ESG requirements evolve. Supply chain disruptions and widespread labor shortages will continue to make their impact and thus shift the balance between retail products and food service

Food Manufacturing Blog, Feb. 28, 2022
https://www.foodmanufacturing.com/consumer-trends/blog/22081182/the-top-food-industry-trends-to-expect-in-2022

Website www.foodmanufacturing.com blogger Douglas Woodruff recently posted discussion on the 2022 top industry trends as listed below:

  • Commitment to Sustainability
  • The Rise of Plant-Based
  • Increased IoT Connectivity and Automation
  • Balance between Food Service and Retail

Speaking of plant-based friendly, shout out to VegMichigan for hosting VegFest once again after a two-year hiatus and making it a mostly outdoor event at the Eastern Market!

VegFest

Sunday, June 5, 2022, 10am – 4pm

Eastern Market | Sheds 5 & 6

Velonda Anderson is a nutritionist, professor, author and speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of Sweet Potato Delights http://www.sweetpotatodelights.com 

bookmark_borderDetroit Great Grocer Project Makes Debut

Posted on by Amy Kuras

I recently heard someone who had recently moved to Detroit say that when he first moved to the city a few years ago someone told him that there was only one grocery store in the city and it was located in “Midtown.” The reality is Detroit is home to nearly 70 stores, most of which are independently owned. Each store does the job of providing healthy food in a safe and respectful environment differently, and some stores face barriers to achieving this. Independent stores have the potential to adjust their products and services to meet the needs of the neighborhoods surrounding their store, and to respond to direct customer feedback to implement changes.

Last week DFPC and our partners in the Detroit Grocery Coalition launched the Detroit Great Grocer project. We formed the Detroit Grocery Coalition with organizations and agencies in the city that want to increase the availability of safe affordable healthy food in our grocery retail sector. the Detroit Great Grocer project does this by giving Detroit residents information about how each store performs based on our evaluation tools; supporting communities to build relationships with their local independent grocery stores; and assisting independent grocery stores that want to improve their capacity to offer a healthy food environment.

The Detroit Great Grocery Project includes the rating of each store on our Great Grocer rating system; a Community Engagement Fellowship where organizations will partner with local stores to improve store relationships with neighbors; and a Healthy Food Promotion Program that will increase the capacity of stores to stock and sell healthy food.
Find out how your local grocery store measures up – see the top 25 stores in the city and their ratings at
https://www.detroitfoodpc.org/committees/#dgc. We will share the ratings for all stores in the city later in the month.

Kibibi Blount-Dorn
DFPC Program Manager in Education and Engagement

bookmark_borderDetroit Great Grocer Project

Posted on by Amy Kuras

How does your neighborhood grocery store measure up?

I recently talked with a neighbor that said when he moved to the Detroit a few years ago someone told him that there was only one grocery store in the city and it was located in “Midtown.” This is the impression many people have about Detroit, but Detroit is home to nearly 70 stores, most of which are independently owned. Our independent grocery stores differ greatly in their selection of quality healthy food, support of community activities, and environment of safety and respect inside the store. We have many stores that are Great Grocers, but many independent stores face barriers to making the improvements needed to increase community food security for the neighborhoods they serve. no matter what their current condition is, independent stores have the potential to adjust their products and services to meet the needs of the neighborhoods surrounding their store, and to respond to direct customer feedback to implement changes.

Last month DFPC and our partners in the Detroit Grocery Coalition launched the Detroit Great Grocer Project. We formed the Detroit Grocery Coalition with organizations and agencies in the city that work to increase the availability of safe, affordable, healthy food in our grocery retail sector. The goals of the Great Grocer Project are to give Detroit residents information about how each store performs based on our evaluation tools; support communities to build relationships with their local independent grocery stores; and assist independent grocery stores that want to improve their capacity to offer a healthy food environment.

The Detroit Great Grocery Project provides a rating of grocery stores on our Great Grocer rating system; a Community Engagement Fellowship with organizations that partner with local stores to improve store relationships with neighbors; and the Healthy Food Promotion Program that will increase the capacity of stores to stock and sell healthy food.

Find out how your local grocery store measures up – see the top 25 stores in the city and their ratings on our Detroit Grocery Coalition page.

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