Following a speech on nutrition and obesity at the National Council of La Raza conference in New Orleans, Michelle Obama appeared at the Sterling Farms grocery store at the intersection of Ames and Lapalco Boulevards in Marrero on Tuesday to continue highlighting a theme of healthy food access. She was greeted by actor Wendell Pierce, who opened the store...
Following a speech on nutrition and obesity at the National Council of La Raza conference in New Orleans, Michelle Obama appeared at the Sterling Farms grocery store at the intersection of Ames and Lapalco Boulevards in Marrero on Tuesday to continue highlighting a theme of healthy food access. She was greeted by actor Wendell Pierce, who opened the store in March as part of an effort to expand the availability of fresh foods.
Obama and Pierce walked down the store's produce aisle, which Pierce described in March as the store's most important aisle. "The lack of access to fresh produce sends people to other poor choices, which is fast food or processed foods," he said at the store's opening.
Stopping in front of the apples, he talked to Obama about food access and introduced her to the store's produce manager, Maurice Harris.
Obama then greeted a group of shoppers who had gathered near the checkout registers to watch the visit, shaking hands, hugging children and posing for pictures.
Naomi Bouie, a 5-year-old Uptown resident wearing her blue Princess Jasmine costume modeled after the character from the animated movie Aladdin, gave Obama a prolonged hug as she continued greeting other shoppers.
Naomi's mother and grandmother said afterward that they told her about Obama's health and fitness campaign, which is called, Let's Move!, and that the girl dutifully told the first lady that she loves broccoli.
Her older brother Caleb Keller told Obama his favorite vegetable is Brussels sprouts, said their grandmother, Gentilly resident Leslie Bouie, and Obama said that is President Obama's favorite vegetable, too.
"It was awesome," said Ariadne Keller, Naomi and Caleb's mother, about the brush with Michelle Obama. "I think it'll do good for the store, as far as bringing people in."
Obama spoke to store employees before leaving.