The Hub City Fresh initiative focuses on looking at the corner stores of New Brunswick, NJ and trying to improve the food selections made by the corner store customers. The project hopes to accomplish an increase in awareness of healthier options that are available in the corner stores such as low sugar cereals, low sodium beans, and brown rice.
Awareness is promoted in three different ways. The first and primary method is through the "Healthier Choice/ Selección Saludable" signs that are placed throughout the store near the healthier food products. All the food groups on MyPlate are included when deciding which food products are going to be considered as healthy. The second method is through surveys that are given to patrons of the different corner stores. Since the majority of residents use the corner stores on a regular basis for their grocery needs, the surveys aim to measure the effectiveness of the signage and recipe cards in the resident's decision when buying food. The third method is through the recipe cards that are left in the front of the store. By supplying simple and healthy recipes, hopefully the residents will be more inclined to try them and perhaps incorporate them into their diet.