News Summary

The Blue Zones Project Jacksonville has designated three Winn-Dixie locations as approved grocery retailers in an initiative to improve community health. This designation aims to promote healthier food options in specific Jacksonville ZIP codes, including 32206, 32208, 32209, 32210, and 32244. Winn-Dixie plans community celebrations to mark this achievement, reflecting its commitment to enhancing public health and providing residents with better food choices.

Jacksonville

The Blue Zones Project Jacksonville has officially designated three Winn-Dixie stores as approved grocery retailers, marking a significant step forward in community health initiatives across Jacksonville. This initiative looks to enhance residents’ health by collaborating with various local stakeholders, including businesses, schools, and civic organizations, in specific ZIP codes, including 32206, 32208, 32209, 32210, and 32244. The designation affirms Winn-Dixie’s commitment to providing healthier food options to the community.

Winn-Dixie’s approved locations are:

• 5210 Norwood Ave. in Gateway Town Center (Brentwood)
• 5647 Roosevelt Blvd. (Ortega)
• 8560 Argyle Forest Blvd.

To achieve this designation from the community’s Blue Zones Project, Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie’s parent company, implemented several health-focused changes within the stores. These enhancements include:

• Replacing candy in a dedicated checkout lane with healthier options like fruits, granola bars, and nuts, along with Blue Zones-approved recipe cards.
• Adding signage that promotes healthy choices and encourages customers to increase water consumption.
• Designating special Blue Zones parking spaces to motivate physical activity.
• Offering in-store promotions and staff training related to adopting healthy habits.
• Creating child-friendly activities such as a scavenger hunt at the “Free Fruit for Kids” stands.

The Blue Zones Project is a nationwide initiative rooted in research on communities that enjoy exceptionally long and healthy lives. To obtain project designation, communities must meet specific criteria, including establishing a local steering committee and demonstrating broad community support.

Winn-Dixie plans to celebrate this important achievement alongside its 100th anniversary with a series of community events scheduled for September 24. The events will occur at the following times and locations:

• 10 a.m. at 5210 Norwood Ave.
• 1 p.m. at 5647 Roosevelt Blvd.
• 3:30 p.m. at 8560 Argyle Forest Blvd.

These celebrations will feature vendors, chefs, food tastings, and various activities for families and individuals. In conjunction with these festivities, Winn-Dixie will also donate $1,000 to each of four local schools that are either approved by the Blue Zones Project or are working towards approval.

Nicole Hamm, the executive director of Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, emphasized the initiative’s commitment to transforming communities and ensuring residents have access to healthy food options. Additionally, Adam Kirk, chief customer and digital officer for Southeastern Grocers, highlighted the company’s ongoing commitment to promoting health and nutritious food selections within the community.

Other Blue Zones-approved grocery stores located in Jacksonville include Clean Greens Mart, The Corner at Debs Store, The Farmery Bakery & Bodega, Premier Meats, and Durkeeville & Co. This broader network of approved retailers supports the mission of enhancing public health and providing residents with better choices for healthy living.

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Additional Resources

• Jacksonville Daily Record: Blue Zones Project and Winn-Dixie
• Blue Book Services: Winn-Dixie Partners with Amazon
• Grocery Dive: Amazon Delivery for Winn-Dixie
• Miami Herald: Winn-Dixie and Local Developments
• Store Brands: Amazon Delivery for Winn-Dixie Groceries
• Wikipedia: Blue Zones

Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER

The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.