Andrew Cole
San Francisco Signage
5/1/12
Health
and San Francisco
Throughout San
Francisco you see grocery stores, farmers markets, and specialized health
stores all around the city. The overall theme of health in the area is
extremely noticeable. While traveling through the city you will notice an
astronomical number of people biking to work and running regardless of the
weather conditions. However one does not have to do much to get a work out in San
Francisco due to its hilly geography. Besides the geography there are a handful of
gyms in every district in the city. For the USF student we are lucky to have
the Koret Gym. The overall health conscious lifestyle helps the health stores
such as Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Haight Street Market thriving.
Health has shaped
the city of San Francisco for many years now, giving it the reputation of being
the “healthy city” Currently, according to bestplaces.net California has three
cities on the top 10 healthiest cities. San Jose holds the first position, San
Francisco the third, Oakland, Sacramento, and Orange County respectively, are
all among the top ten. California hosts
many events and programs to promote the city’s healthy lifestyle. One event
that happened in 2009 was the one that the PTA and Jamba Juice put together in
order to honor 45 different schools for their outstanding education about
supporting healthy lifestyles. There are many programs throughout the city that
support ones health. Many organizations have been made in order to help those continue
the healthy lifestyle, which is not an inexpensive one. Healthy San Francisco
is an organization in the city that helps those who cannot afford health
insurance/services, more accessible. This is fantastic for many of those who
are unhealthy are so due to lack of funds to buy fresh produce and quality
food, resorting in the purchase of fast food. The city as a whole has a very
healthy atmosphere.
Speaking of
“healthy atmosphere’s” Health stores have been thriving in the city. Whole
Food, which is a major health store, has almost ten locations in the city
alone. One location in particular that has been doing extremely well is the
Whole Foods on Haight Street. This Whole foods, which is pictured below has
modified its marketing patterns to accommodate its surrounding environment. The
market has illustrated its store to show different areas of the city. This
chain of health food stores is one that is known to be pretty pricey. A
favorite motto for whole foods that I hear from my mother especially is “whole
foods, whole price”. On the other end of the price scale is Trader Joes, also
pictures below, which is my personal favorite food store. Here they have fresh
produce and a wonderful assortment of wine for a very reasonable price. Trader
Joes like has a handful of stores in the city. With its low prices there is
never an empty store. Trader Joes deals with fresh organic produce that is
partially locally grown. Besides
these two main health distributors there are also smaller health stores like
the Haight Street Market, which buys local fresh produce and has organic food
as well. Even with the
major stores easily accessible these stores are still thriving and just as
packed. Many of these stores have unique signage system to let you know what is
organic and what is not. These
grocery stores have helped increase the health conscious lifestyle throughout
the city.
Farmers markets
are held throughout the city on a weekly basis contribute to a huge portion of
produce sold. With over
25 farmers markets happening in Frisco weekly, many local businesses are able
to sell their food and network throughout the city. On Saturday one of the largest farmers market around
is held on Embarcadero Street.
According to the website, www.sanfrancisco.about.com, around 25,000 people
visit the market every week.
Because of their weekly hours farmers markets are a main attraction for those
shopping for the best food available. Most of the people shopping are your regular food buyer, however
chefs and other important farmers are there as well. Not only does this way of buying food shape the way
one eats in the home but as well as the way one eats when one goes out for
dinner. Many people in San
Francisco use this system as their main source of food shopping and some stick
with the grocery stores, but for USF students we don’t have to go far.
Bon appetite
management has impacted USF student’s way of eating. The group helps bring in all local foods from around
and outside the bay area, allowing many local farms to be the resources to our
fresh produce. While our
cafeteria offers the typical burger and french-fries we also have two salad
bars, which are my personal favorites. Besides vegetables they have a variety of fresh fruit for your
enjoyment. While looking through their website they
state, “They prepare and serve often within 48 hours of harvest”, by doing so
they are ensuring fresh local produce. Also, Bon appetite only buys from those
farmers that are able to use sustainable farming. Besides the health of our students the management
company are very conscious about the overall health of the planet. They currently practice lowering
emissions by reducing their airfreighted products. Another service provided at USF is the Health
Promotion Services, which help students manage healthy lifestyles. This system promotes ten vital health tips for
the college student facing the growing health issues in the United States. For these reasons USF is
extremely health conscious and readily promoting a healthier lifestyle for our
students.
Fitness in San
Francisco is a huge part of the typical Californian lifestyle. For us USF students and those in the close
proximity of our district can enjoy the Koret Center, which is a very large gym
with the largest pool in the city. Many people work out on a daily basis weather its hitting the
gym or going to the park for a run. Because of the weather in San Francisco it is extremely easy to
participate in outdoor physical activities such as running and ultimate Frisbee. Also, a lot of people enjoy
water sports, such as kite surfing and surfing. The variety of parks in the city is a huge proponent
to our cities physical activity because many people walk in the park and play
sports. The Golden Gate
Park host many sporting events from basketball to polo.
San Francisco’s
overall health has shaped the way the city functions on a daily basis. With all of its stores,
markets, and gyms the signage system has varied in order to market to those
health conscious individuals. The food signage itself has been now redirected
to reflect a healthier lifestyle and causes those unhealthy persons to think
more closely about what they are eating
As a whole san Francisco is one of the healthiest cities in North
America and reflects it in its advertising.
