"Big Retailers Make Pledge of Stores for 'Food Deserts'"

"WASHINGTON — Executives from Wal-Mart, Walgreens, SuperValu and other stores joined Michelle Obama at the White House on Wednesday to announce a pledge to open or expand a combined 1,500 stores in communities that have limited access to nutritious food and are designated as 'food deserts.'

With the pledges, secured by the Partnership for a Healthier America, which is part of Mrs. Obama's campaign to reduce childhood obesity, the stores aim to reach 9.5 million of the 23.5 million Americans who live in areas where finding affordable healthy foods can be difficult. In those areas, many people turn to fast food restaurants or convenience stores. ...

The Department of Agriculture defines "food deserts" as low-income areas where more than 500 people or 33 percent of the population lives more than one mile from an affordable food store. In rural towns, the distance is 10 miles.   "

Sean Collins Walsh reports for the New York Times July 20, 2011