Miami Gardens, FL (September 14, 2023) – Leading the Live Healthy Miami Gardens (LHMG) initiative, the City of Miami Gardens remains dedicated to reducing health disparities and enhancing community well-being. On September 13, 2023, City Council members officially endorsed the Healthy Retail Incentive Program, reaffirming its commitment to constituents’ health. Initiatives like the Healthy Retail Incentive Program can boost the local economy by promoting local businesses and supporting community health and wellbeing, while fostering social connections.

Mayor Rodney Harris underscores the importance of the Healthy Retail Incentive Program, stating, “the program encourages both retailers and consumers to prioritize health by offering healthy options at checkout counters citywide. Implementing this initiative aligns with the City’s broader health vision that aims to enhance community well-being, setting a precedent for other municipalities to follow.”

The National Institutes of Health warns that childhood obesity consequences may lead to shorter lifespans than their parents, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue. This is not something we can afford to ignore. Teens and adults who consume one or more sodas or sugar-sweetened beverages per day are more likely to be overweight or obese. More children are being diagnosed with diseases linked to obesity previously seen only in adults, such as Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease. Data collected from City surveys in 2017 highlighted significant health concerns for Miami Gardens residents, with obesity and sedentary lifestyles affecting over 37% of the population. These and other challenges exacerbated during the Covid 19 Pandemic have continued to take a toll on the health of families in Miami Gardens. As part of a systematic approach to addressing food access under the LHMG umbrella, the Healthy Retail Incentive Program seeks to help alleviate the burden of diet-related chronic disease, which currently impacts a significant number of Miami Gardens residents. The program also facilitates an opportunity for retailers to be celebrated for their efforts, while engaging with Miami Gardens residents through direct actions encouraging health and well-being.

Collaborating with lead partners Florida Impact to End Hunger (FLIEH) and Urban Health Partnerships (UHP), LHMG has diligently refined the Healthy Retail Incentive Program, also known as the Healthy Checkout Program, since 2020. This effort received support from the Center for Science In the Public Interest (CSPI) and Voices For Healthy Kids (VFHK). The LHMG Healthy Retail Subcommittee, comprising various member-partners, including the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Jessie Trice Community Health System, Florida Department of Health in Miami Dade County, FLIPANY, local churches, community-based organizations, local retailers, and residents, provided valuable input and guidance throughout the process.

The LHMG Healthy Retail Subcommittee will be instrumental in onboarding local retailers to the program and assisting them in reaching a Grade A level, where 50% of products in checkout lanes are identified as healthy food and beverage options. With the passage of the Healthy Retail Incentive Program, the City of Miami Gardens, through its City Council, affirms its commitment to expanding access to healthy food choices. They also pledge to recognize and support local food and beverage retailers participating in efforts to enhance the well-being of the Miami Gardens community.

1 Keller, A., & Della Torre, S. B. (2015). Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Obesity among Children and Adolescents: A Review of Systematic Literature Reviews. Childhood Obesity, 11(4), 338-346. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2014.0117

2 https://livehealthymiamigardens.com/mental-health/

For more information or to join as a retailer, please contact any of the lead partners: Florida Impact at [email protected], Urban Health Partnerships at [email protected], or Live Healthy Miami Gardens at [email protected]. Share this news with your local city officials and encourage them to ‘Get with the Program,’ prioritizing nutrition and health for the community.

MEDIA CONTACT
Alba Rubio
Communications & Events Project Manager
Urban Health Partnerships
[email protected] | 786-224-2309 | urbanhp.org

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About Urban Health Partnerships

Urban Health Partnerships’ mission is to invest in our communities by co-designing sustainable change and promoting equity and well-being across the life span. Since 2011, UHP has distinguished itself in its leadership in collective impact initiatives and by emphasizing community empowerment and integration. UHP brings a unique lens to place-based initiatives as its multidisciplinary team integrates perspectives in public and mental health, urban planning, age-friendly communities, food access, community development and engagement, and health equity to implement change. To learn more about UHP’ impact please view the 2022 annual report here, or visit urbanhp.org.

About Live Healthy Miami Gardens

The Live Healthy Miami Gardens (LHMG) Initiative is part of the City of Miami Gardens’ strategic and systemic effort to reduce poor health outcomes by engaging community residents to improve selected public health indicators. To learn more, visit http://livehealthymiamigardens.com.

About Florida Impact to End Hunger

Florida Impact to End Hunger is a statewide anti-hunger organization dedicated to helping communities mobilize and maximize access to federal, state, and local food and nutrition programs with a focus on under-resourced populations. We accomplish this through advocacy, education and collaboration. For more information please visit https://floridaimpact.org.