Virtual supermarket in library

http://wjz.com/seenon/Virtual.supermarket.baltimore.2.1569512.html

ReportingMary Bubala BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
A unique program is using a high-tech method to make sure Baltimore City families have healthy food at home.
Mary Bubala reports it's a virtual supermarket that's filling a major void.
Terri Summerhill, 74, lives in a neighborhood city officials call a "food desert." There's no supermarket within walking distance for residents to find healthy, inexpensive food.
But the Enoch Pratt Free Library has become a lifeline. Inside the Orleans Street Library branch, Summerhill is grocery shopping.
It's called the Virtual Supermarket Project. It's a partnership between the Baltimore City Health Department and the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
Residents like Terri can come in and order groceries online and pay for them, and then pick them up at the same location the very next day.
"You are thinking, groceries at your library, I thought it was books and DVDs and things like that," said Dr. Carla Hayden, CEO of Enoch Pratt Free Library.
Hayden says the program is a first in the nation and access to healthy food is vital.
Washington Village is one of two locations where the Virtual Supermarket is set up. Washington Village has the sixth highest mortality rate linked to diet, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
"Residents must choose between shopping at small corner stores that lack fresh produce or paying a premium for a ride outside of their neighborhood and we know this is not a fair choice," said Interim Health Commissioner, Olivia Farrow.
So finally there is choice.
Santoni's in Southeast Baltimore stepped up to the plate, when other grocery chains would not, to make sure good food is available to all.
"Right now we have a fleet of three vehicles, drivers and personal shoppers who do nothing except receive phone orders from seniors who are on fixed income," said Rob Santoni, Santoni's.Now those seniors and others can order online at the library and live healthier lives.
"Today I ordered fruit. I got apples, peaches, pork chops and chicken," said Summerhill.
The project is funded by a $60,000 grant. It plans to expand to other libraries across the city in zones without grocery stores.

Lucas: honor farm bill

Lucas States Concerns about Proposed Funding Source for Lincoln BillSays threat of excessive regs emphasizes EQIP's importance
WASHINGTON – Today, Ranking Member Frank Lucas issued the following statement regarding Senate Agriculture Chairman Blanche Lincoln's recently unveiled child nutrition bill.
"No one would question the importance of child nutrition and I appreciate Senator Lincoln’s efforts. However, it is unfortunate that the funding source for Senator Lincoln’s bill would require cuts to one of the most necessary conservation programs for our farmers and ranchers.
"The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides necessary assistance to our farmers and ranchers who must comply with a growing number of environmental regulations. The threat of the Obama administration placing greater hardships on our agricultural producers with excessive regulations only emphasizes the importance of EQIP.
"This administration continues to pit programs that benefit our farmers against other programs and it’s to the detriment of American agriculture. We made a commitment to our farmers and ranchers in the 2008 farm bill and I intend to honor that commitment."

CSPI: In an otherwise contentious time

Bipartisan Agreement Likely Means USDA Will Set Nutrition Standards for Vending in Schools
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan

In an otherwise contentious time in Washington, it’s good to know that Republicans and Democrats can come together for the sake of child nutrition and health. The agreement that Chairman Blanche Lincoln and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss have forged, along with the support of industry leaders and health groups, will allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that the federal investment in healthy school meals isn’t undermined by foods that harm kids’ health.
USDA is currently updating the school meal standards; now Congress is poised to allow USDA to take care of the rest of school foods. The current national nutrition standards for foods sold out of school vending machines and a la carte lines in cafeterias are 30 years out of date and no longer make sense. They don’t address key nutrition problems like calories, fats, salt, and sugar.
USDA needs to update its nutrition standards for school foods sold outside of meals, and apply those standards to the whole campus, the whole school day. We’re pleased that industry leaders like Mars, Nestlé, Coke, and Pepsi see the need for this as well.
There has been an absolute sea change when it comes to parents’ expectations for the foods that are available in schools. Many cities, states, and companies have already begun to improve the nutritional quality of foods they sell in school. However, two-thirds of states still have weak or no school nutrition standards. When Congress passes the child nutrition reauthorization bill, it will help get all junk food out of every school once and for all.

Price wars for grocers?

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9EH79D00.htm
Price wars for grocers?
PORTLAND, Ore.
If Wal-Mart Stores Inc. lowers prices on grocery items in its stores, as anticipated, it could extend the price wars among grocers, analysts said Thursday.
Wal-Mart management recently said that the retailer is prepared to roll out a new round of price reductions, although the details are still unclear.
The cycle of price competition, which grocers became steeped in during the recession, will likely continue and escalate now that Wal-Mart has signaled further price reductions, Hapoalim Securities analyst Ajay Jain said in a research note Thursday. He noted that investors are still too eager to shrug off a growing belief that price wars are a "relic" from last year.
"We still don't see any meaningful signs of recovery taking shape at this time," Jain wrote.
He said there are still significant risks for the full-year estimates for Kroger, Supervalu Inc. and Safeway Inc. as many investors appear to believe the period of price competition is over and grocers' results have been benefiting by comparison to a prior year when they were struggling with record high food deflation issues.
Credit Suisse analyst Michael Exstein, however, said in a note Thursday that results of a survey by his firm show the broader change in pricing by Wal-Mart hasn't materialized. But he does expect the Bentonville, Ark., chain to lower prices on key items to stimulate traffic and sales growth.
The hype surrounding these changes is likely to raise concerns among investors, he noted, and said this could pressure supermarket's stocks in the near term.
Shares of Wal-Mart fell 9 cents to $55.83 in afternoon trading Thursday. Kroger shares dropped 14 cents to $22.30, Supervalu was down by 24 cents to $17.24 and Safeway fell 43 cents to $24.90.