Last updated on August 30th, 2022 at 02:54 pm
On June 13, a news conference was held at Spartan Stores Family Fare Metro Health Village location where Gov. Rick Snyder introduced Pure Michigan FIT, a nutrition and fitness initiative focusing on children up to age 5 that will provide tools and resources for Michigan families to incorporate healthy eating habits and physical activity into their lifestyles.
Gov. Snyder, Spartan Stores President and CEO Dennis Eidson and Pure Michigan FIT partners announced the launch of a statewide health and wellness program while local children participated in activities related to nutrition and fitness. Activities included brown bag grab, Nutrition Key scavenger hunt, smoothie and Spartan Super Pasta samples, United Dairy Industry of Michigan milk moustache photo booth and Fit Bits with Spartan Stores YMCA.
“We are excited to partner with the State of Michigan on the launch of Pure Michigan FIT,” Eidson said. “Our commitment to health and wellness is a priority for our consumers and employees throughout Michigan. Whether it’s through our Nutrition Keys, facts up front on our Spartan private brand products, free prescriptions in our pharmacies, to encouraging our employees to participate in a fun walk/run.”
The pilot program will be implemented over three years, starting in June 2012, in conjunction with the Pure Michigan FIT partners. The first part of the three-year plan kicked off June 13 at the Family Fare Metro Health store in Wyoming with the Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) promoting healthy habits through signage and nutrition information at grocery stores.
The second phase is a collaboration with the Michigan Department of Human Services to identify best practices that help increase healthy food availability and nutrition education for Michigan’s low-income families.
The third phase, through the leadership of the American Academy of Pediatrics-Michigan, will be working with the state’s medical schools and health associations to provide nutrition education and training classes for doctors, nurses, and others who care for our children and families.
“The Pure Michigan FIT program is a great example of what can happen when you unleash the power of partnership and creativity with the goal of making a real difference in reducing obesity rates in Michigan,” said Snyder. “The goal of the Pure Michigan FIT program is to lay a foundation of healthy eating and living habits early so it translates into a lifelong healthy lifestyle.”
Linda Gobler, MGA president/CEO, said, “The Michigan Grocers Association is proud to be a partner in the Pure Michigan FIT program. Our industry is committed to providing healthy, nutritious food to Michigan consumers and working closely with the other partners to improve the health of our citizens.”
Spartan Stores is the nation’s tenth largest grocery distributor with 1.4 million s.f. of warehouse, distribution and office space located in Grand Rapids. The company distributes more than 40,000 private and national brand products to approximately 375 independent grocery locations in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and to its 97 corporate owned stores located in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen’s Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, VG’s Food and Pharmacy, and Valu Land.
Photo at top: Pure Michigan FIT launch at Spartan Stores Family Fare Metro Health Village store. Dennis Eidson, President and CEO, Spartan Stores, presenting a Pure Michigan FIT T-shirt to Governor Rick Snyder.
