Grocery Chief Offers Expiring Food Plan

Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe's, is working on a plan to sell expiring but still-edible, nutritious food to Boston's low-income families.

February 28, 2013

BOSTON - Recognizing the vast quantity of food that supermarkets discard every day as it nears its sell-by date, the former president of Trader Joe??s is working on a plan to sell that food at affordable prices to Boston??s low-income families, the Associated Press reports.

Doug Rauch is negotiating to open a 10,000-square-foot store in Boston??s Dorchester section for his Urban Food Initiative, an idea to make healthy meals available at the same prices as fast food meals.

''The number one leading problem is affordable nutrition,???? said Rauch, who retired from Trader Joe??s in 2008. ''For the 50 million Americans who are food insecure, their solution is not a full stomach. It??s a healthy meal.????

Rauch is funding most of the project with his own money, and to succeed, he must overcome the perception that he??s selling unwanted food to the poor.

Jose Alvarez, an Urban Food Initiative board member, said the organization has to get out the message that it??s not just selling "the rich man??s garbage."

"You could have bought this yesterday at Whole Foods or Stop & Shop for $2 and today you can get it at Doug??s store for a $1 or 50 cents and it??s perfectly fine," he said of the project??s message.

Rauch said he would open similar outlets in other cities if his Boston store is successful.

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