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Several U.S. cities are participating in efforts aimed at improving the nutritional content of foods sold in convenience stores, the New York Times reports. Many public health officials say that convenience stores—which typically stock unhealthy foods such as chips, candy and soda—are contributing to the obesity epidemic. According to a study published last year in the American Journal of Epidemiology, individuals with no supermarket near their homes were nearly half as likely to maintain a healthy diet as were those with more shopping options. Acknowledging that convenience stores often serve as a primary food source for individuals living in underserved neighborhoods with limited access to large grocery stores, health officials began making efforts to improve the quality of foods sold in such stores. An initiative in Cleveland, for example, encourages small convenience stores to display fruit near the check-out counter and promotes these stores with sidewalk signs, posters and information at neighborhood health events. New York City's Healthy Bodegas initiative has improved the quality of foods sold in approximately 1,000 stores through several efforts, including helping owners secure zoning permits to allow fruit and vegetable displays on the sidewalk. In Louisville, Ky., two small convenience stores were awarded $20,000 this year to expand their fresh produce offerings. A program in Hartford, Conn., offers store owners incentives to change the mix of products they offer. Store owners who replace 5 percent of their junk food and soft drinks each year with regular groceries are provided market research on what foods neighborhood residents would be most interested in purchasing. Beyond improving the nutritional offerings at convenience stores, several cities are also experimenting with efforts to attract larger grocery chains to underserved areas. Based on the success of a program in Philadelphia, New York City officials are considering altering zoning laws and providing tax incentives to encourage grocery stores to open outlets in underserved areas of the city (Granville, New York Times, 10/31/09 [registration required]). (Editor's Note: The Food Trust, mentioned in the complete New York Times article, is an RWJF grantee.).