BLUE ZONES PROJECT OSKALOOSA ANNOUNCES TWO BLUE ZONES GROCERY STORES
Blue Zones Project sponsored by Wellmark
Oskaloosa, Iowa – June 10, 2014 – Blue Zones Project® Oskaloosa is pleased to announce Hy-Vee and Fareway, both located off the downtown square, as Blue Zones Grocery Stores®. The stores achieved designation after completing the necessary items on the Blue Zones Grocery Store pledge. Citizens are invited to celebrate on Wednesday, June 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Fareway and 1 p.m. at Hy-Vee.
By completing this pledge, Hy-Vee and Fareway have shown their commitment to providing the best possible environment for helping people make healthy choices. The pledge offers tools and tips to improve customers’ health by providing healthy food options and improving the access to those options.
“As a grocery store dietitian, one of my favorite things is assisting customers when they shop, and by making some simple changes, they can make their favorite foods healthier,” said Debbie Guild, Hy-Vee dietitian and Blue Zones Project Healthy Foods Committee member. “I think Blue Zones Project has the potential to positively impact the health of Oskaloosa.”
Hy-Vee will be offering tours on request for people looking for new foods or Blue Zones® Foods. Fareway began working on the Blue Zones Grocery Store designation in April and during this time have increased the produce space at the front of the store, which helps shoppers to fill their baskets with Blue Zones foods. Shopping carts also have a special place to put fruits and vegetables and the store offers Shopping Cents magazine, which contains delicious and healthy recipes to their customers.
“I am excited that Fareway and Hy-Vee have participated in the Blue Zones Project and are making it easier for their customers to select healthy foods,” said Cathy Fay, a local dietitian and Blue Zones Project Healthy Foods Committee co-chair. “Promoting healthier options will encourage shoppers to think about their food choices and ultimately improve the well-being of our community.”
Brought to Iowa through an innovative sponsorship by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, in collaboration with Healthways and Blue Zones, Blue Zones Project is a community-by-community well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to environment, policy, and social networks.
For more information contact the Blue Zones Project team at 641-670-7777 or visit www.bluezonesproject.com.
