Walmart wants to bring some ‘green’ to the growing food deserts in America

There has been more than few studies which have shown that there is a link between our growing obesity problem and the lack of access to affordable produce for people to buy and eat, which is in start contrast to the availability of incredibly cheap fast food and carbonated drinks.

The sad part is that for most of the country it is cheaper, especially for a family with children, to go to McDonald’s or Burger King to eat than it is to go to a grocery store and buy the groceries need to make that dinner for four.

Not one to miss a chance to make lots of money Walmart has joined forces with Michelle Obama and her initiative to bring affordable food goods to these areas called food deserts.

In an announcement this week Walmart said that it will be opening up to 300 new locations over the next five years, on top of the 218 they have already opened, and hope to serve some 1.3 million people. This move will make Walmart the biggest grocer in the nation.

Now before we go heralding Walmart and its social conscience let’s realize that they aren’t doing this just out of the goodness of their corporate heart. There is a huge amount of money to be made here and they will be able to do this while paying some of the lowest wages in the nation. Not only that but they are going into areas where they have absolutely no competition.

The only upside to this really, is that at least these food deserts will have a viable alternative to junk and fast food.

via Fast Company