Harper Visits Englewood Whole Foods Market; Highlights Efforts to Increase Urban Agriculture

CHICAGO – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, recently toured Englewood’s Whole Foods Market to highlight the importance of increasing access to healthy foods for low-income communities.

“It is heart-warming to work with community partners to encourage people to shop at local stores like Whole Foods Market rather than at a convenience store,” Harper said. “I am grateful for the enterprise choosing our neighborhood and providing our families with nutritious foods and groceries.”

One of Harper’s top priorities is to increase urban agriculture initiatives and make healthy foods more accessible to low-income families. She recently passed a new law that helps municipalities actively track food deserts. The Chicago Democrat wants to continue working with local community groups, like Grow Greater Englewood, and businesses to eliminate food deserts in Chicago and throughout Illinois.

“It is my hope other businesses will look to this example and begin to invest in the people and neighborhoods I represent,” said Harper. “I have been living in a food desert for nearly 40 years, and I will not stop encouraging supermarkets to open their doors on the South Side and help my friends and neighbors.”