1. 1
William Siegel
43 Plum St.
New Brunswick, NJ 07090
April 25, 2013
The Reinvestment Fund
1700 Market St., 19th
Floor
Philadelphia, PA 191303
Attn.: Food Access Grant
Dear Ms. Christina Szczepanski,
I would like to thank you for attending the recent presentation of my proposal to build a
greenhouse in Trenton, New Jersey. One of the greatest concerns in America for current and
future generations is childhood obesity. Obesity has a wide variety of health problems associated
with it such as heart disease, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, joint and bone problems, cancer, and
much more. Trenton is my first choice for this project because a significant portion of Trenton is
in a Limited Supermarket Access (LSA) area. In addition, the obesity and overweight rate in
children ages 3-19 years in Trenton is more than twice the national average (Rutgers, 2010). The
reason for this is that healthy food options are not available at affordable prices to a large part of
the Trenton area. Without a hub for healthy and affordable food options, it is no wonder why
obesity is becoming an epidemic in low-income urban areas. At the rate obesity is increasing
there is no time more crucial than now to begin implementing my plan.
My solution to combat obesity will not only reduce obesity rates, it will provide local
communities with an affordable means to purchase fresh and healthy foods and provide jobs to
local residents. I propose that a commercial greenhouse be built in the heart of the LSA area in
Trenton so that it is within reasonable distance from residents without access to automobiles.
If you have any inquiries or would like to discuss this further, please email me at
wts36@scarletmail.edu or call me at (908)-268-6766. I am also available to meet in person. I
look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
William T. Siegel

2. 2
Introducing Greenhouses in Limited Supermarket Access
Areas:
An Affordable and Effective Plan to Reduce Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in
Trenton, New Jersey
Submitted by:
William Siegel
Submitted to:
Christina Szczepanski
Fresh Food Access Program Manager
The Reinvestment Fund
1700 Market St., 19th
Floor
Philadelphia, PA 191303
Submitted on:
April 25, 2013
Scientific and Technical Writing
Course Number: 355.302.14

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Abstract
Childhood and adolescent obesity lead to serious health concerns that are both debilitating and
deadly. Children who come from low-income families are almost twice as likely to suffer from
obesity (Stern, 2010). This is because low-income areas typically do not have the same selection
of healthy foods for reasonable prices that more developed, higher-income communities have.
The proposal makes clear that such high obesity rates in Trenton are due to a lack of fresh and
healthy foods available within a reasonable distance of residents. In addition to this, low-income
residents in urban areas typically do not have a practical means of transportation to get to grocery
stores that offer healthy options. Therefore, parents resort to food shopping at corner stores and
bodegas that thrive off of selling unhealthy food options for cheap prices and limited healthy
options at an unreasonable markup.
The proposal shows the difference between obesity rates in higher-income areas versus lower-
income areas. It also describes a plan to reduce these rates in low-income areas by growing fresh
produce in Trenton, New Jersey and distributing it locally. It states that this is the most effective
way of reducing obesity rates in children and adolescents because of the significant role diet
plays in a child’s health. The paradigm described in this proposal is one that can easily be
replicated and upon success should be considered as a solution for the same problem elsewhere.
It describes in detail how to reduce obesity while connecting with the local community, which is
key to getting the foot in the door with low-income urban communities.

4. 4
Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................ i
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ ii
Childhood Obesity in Trenton, New Jersey...................................................................................iii
Why is this a problem?................................................................................................................ 5
Why does Trenton have such high obesity rates? ....................................................................... 5
How to fix this problem .............................................................................................................. 5
Expenses and Future Costs.......................................................................................................... 5
Recurring Costs........................................................................................................................... 5
About Rutgers University............................................................................................................ 6
Why is this Project Necessary?....................................................................................................... 6
Building Local Greenhouses Nationwide ................................................................................... 7
Why Should This Project be a Priority?...................................................................................... 8
Project Description.......................................................................................................................... 8
Goal............................................................................................................................................. 8
Objective ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Why 10 Years?...........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Long Term................................................................................................................................... 9
Bringing the Greenhouse to Life................................................................................................. 9
Staffing...................................................................................................................................... 10
Evaluation: Measuring Progress................................................................................................ 11
Sustainability............................................................................................................................. 11
Budget............................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
In Closing……………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
References………………………………………………………………………………………. 15

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Childhood Obesity in Trenton, New Jersey
Why is this a problem?
Obesity in children and adolescents is an issue that is growing quickly and affects an enormous
population in Trenton, NJ. Obesity in children leads to a multitude of health problems such as
cancer, heart disease, joint disease, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and much more (CDC,
2013). Approximately 47.3% of children age 3-19 in Trenton are overweight or obese, which is
more than double the national average of 21% (Stern, 2010).
Why does Trenton have such high obesity rates?
Trenton suffers from such high rates of obesity because there is limited access to healthy and
affordable foods within much of the low-income communities in the city. Many residents in
Trenton have no way of getting to supermarkets and cannot afford to buy produce at their local
corner-store. As a result of this, majority of meals for these people and their children consist of
high-sugar-content foods such as fast foods and cheap packaged foods. When residents lack a
central food hub within at least one mile, it is called a Limited Supermarket Access area (LSA).
How to fix this problem
The project I have come up with is to build a commercial greenhouse in one of the areas that
lacks access to healthy and fresh foods in Trenton, NJ. This greenhouse will grow fruits and
vegetables which will be sold to the local community at a minimum cost so that regardless of
income, any family should be able to afford it. This program will operate indefinitely as it is a
self-sustaining operation. After it has been established, the cost of the project will decrease
greatly because the cost for purchasing and installing overhead will be a one-time expense.
Caretakers will be hired for the plants and local members of the community will be hired to work
the carts as well as sell produce. Working with the Rutgers University School of Environmental
and Biological sciences could also provide a means to find qualified employees for the
greenhouse at a low cost.
Expenses and Future Costs
Overall, the total cost of this project is estimated to be approximately $330,000. Out of this,
approximately $250,000 will be a one-time expense. This one-time expense includes the cost for
land, the greenhouse, and installation of equipment.
Recurring Costs
The remainder of the expenses, ~$77,000 will be recurring costs. This includes heating and
cooling, growing supplies, permits, and employee salaries. Two professional growers will start
out being paid $14/hour and another four employees will be hired to handle selling produce and
taking care of non-professional work. Each of these employees will be paid $9/hour.

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 Sustainability and Profits
This project is highly self-sustainable. Projections show that approximately 4,800 people in
Trenton, New Jersey live in a Limited Supermarket Access area. If only 600 (12.5%) of these
people spend only $3 a week on our produce, then this project will generate $93,600 annually.
This is just over enough to cover recurring costs which makes this project highly sustainable. All
profits will go towards expansion and the upkeep of the property.
About Rutgers University
Rutgers University has already established several very successful greenhouses and is a rich
source for any information and resources related to the topic. Rutgers University has an eco-
complex that includes commercial greenhouses, so with this as a reference and source for
development of this project, then there is no reason why this project would not work. There are
far more than enough resources available to go through with this successfully as long as we have
the proper capital. I know that with the creativity I will contribute and the resources from both
Rutgers University and The Reinvestment Fund there is no reason for concern about the success
of this project.
Why is this Project Necessary?
In more than just Trenton, children and adolescents need a way out of this cycle of poor diet and
health. According to the Center for Disease Control, “In 2010 more than one third of children
and adolescents were overweight or obese” (2010). That number speaks for itself in regards to
the necessity for intervention. Not only that, but over the last 30 years, the obesity rate in
children has doubled. In adolescents it has even tripled (CDC, 2013). Without local grocers to
depend on for healthy and affordable food, these numbers are bound to increase. This is why the
best time to act is now.
Although the population in Trenton is suffering greatly from obesity, there is a way to remedy
this. Table 1 indicates that Trenton, for its size, is in very bad shape as far as healthy food
availability goes. This makes the job of those looking to fix this problem quite simple; healthy
food must be introduced into the communities that lack access to such. Supermarkets are rare to
find in areas such Trenton and much of the population does not have cars to get around with. So,
when corner stores are the only ones selling healthy food, it leaves low-income families with
little choices for their diet. The reason for such high prices is because by the time produce is
imported to these locations, the costs have increased juristically due to transportation, storage,
and markup from the distributor to the vendor. Not only that, but after transportation most fruits
and vegetables lose nutritional value (Barrett, 2007). This is why my plan is to grow locally,
making healthy foods far more affordable and nutritious.

7. 7
Table 1 demonstrates the need for more healthy food options in Trenton by showing how it ranks
versus other small cities when it comes to being a Limited Supermarket Access area.
Table 1: LSA Ordered by Degree of Problem and Effect on Area
Rank States Cities with
population
greater than
500,000
Cities with
population
between
250,000 and
500,000
Cities with
population
between
100,000 and
250,000
Cities with
population
between 50,000
and 100,000
1 Pennsylvania Washington,
DC
Cleveland,
OH
Richmond, VA Camden, NJ
2 Rhode Island Baltimore,
MD
Kansas City,
MD
Knoxville, TN Trenton, NJ
3 Louisiana Philadelphia,
PA
St. Louis,
MO
Syracuse, NY Gary, IN
4 Connecticut Dallas, TX Newark, NJ Baton Rouge,
LA
Lawrence, MA
5 Illinois Milwaukee,
WI
Buffalo, NY New Haven, CT Youngstown,
OH
http://www.cdfifund.gov/what_we_do/resources/SearchingForMarkets_Report_web_Low_%20Res.pdf
Building Local Greenhouses Nationwide
One of the amazing things about this project is that it can be implemented almost anywhere with
a reasonable amount of sunshine. However, it should be noted that this project is most efficient
and practical for people living in areas that are considered low-income and that do not have easy
access to fresh food and produce. This plan is ideal for other cities that suffer from the same
problems as Trenton such as Camden, NJ and Lawrence, MA. One of the many factors that
makes this plan versatile is that it uses greenhouses to grow the produce. The produce will be
grown in raised planting beds. By doing this we would bypass any problems that may be
encountered in regards to outside temperature or poor soil quality in the land. This plan is easily
executable because there is a great demand for healthy and affordable food options in low-
income urban areas across the nation. It is a self-sustaining project, and in addition to this,
physical well-being, as is common knowledge, is fundamental to an overall healthy life.

8. 8
Why Should This Project be a Priority?
As previously stated, the obesity rate in America has more than doubled in children and tripled in
adolescents over the last 30 years (CDC, 2013). Obese and overweight children are at a far
greater risk for developing numerous health problems. In addition to this, studies show that obese
boys are about 5 times more likely to be “psychologically unhealthy” when compared to healthy
sized boys, and obese girls are 3 times more likely to be “psychologically unhealthy” (Sharma,
2010). Obese girls and boys were found to be 4 to 7 times more probable to attempt suicide in
their lifetime (Sharma, 2010). When considering these figures with the fact that heart disease is
the number 1 cause of death in the United States, there is no excuse to not address this problem
now.
The project I propose is the best option to tackle childhood and adolescent obesity because it
approaches the problem with a non-judgmental and practical means. It does not place the blame
on children or parents for what is simply not in their power to provide.
With my plan we will be fixing the problem right at the dinner table. The proposed plan will
make fresh, healthy produce convenient and affordable in Limited Supermarket Access areas.
There will no longer be any difficulty for parents when it comes to buying the right food. Parents
will not have to make the decision about whether to take two buses to pick up healthy groceries
or pay more money than can be afforded for an incredibly limited selection of healthy foods. No
family should be forced to choose between their health and wallets. When this project is
complete, picking up healthy food will be the convenient and smart choice instead of the sugar
and preservative-filled products at local corner stores.
Project Description
Goal
This project’s goal is to lower the rate of obese and overweight children and adolescents in
Trenton, New Jersey.
This project also aims to provide fresh produce to communities that are currently living in
Limited Supermarket Access areas for an affordable price.
Objective
By introducing a means for the communities in Trenton to acquire fresh and healthy food that
is affordable, the objective of this project is to lower the rate of obesity and overweight
children and adolescents from 47.3% to 35% over the course of 10 years.

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Long Term
In the long term, I would like this projects success to serve as a paradigm for other Limited
Supermarket Access areas to follow. After the success of this project is evident along with
the simplicity and affordability of it, there will be little to no reason for cities such as
Camden, NJ and Albany, NY to not do the same.
Bringing the Greenhouse to Life
o Land Acquisition: The first step will be to locate and purchase a property that
has enough space to fit a commercial greenhouse and that if not already, will be
leveled.
 The majority of land and buildings in the Trenton area that a
greenhouse can be built on contains contaminants in the soil and
structures such as: lead, mercury, asbestos. For this reason it is
necessary that all produce be grown in raised planting beds to
avoid food contamination.
 The location of the greenhouse must be on a plot of land where the
neighboring buildings do not shade the structure. Not fulfilling this
need would cause the plants to be shaded by the buildings and
could cause improper growth in the plants.
o Permits: At the time being there are no permits required for growing and selling
the produce. However, the building process and any necessary demolition may
require permits. This is right now unknown because of the obscurity of this
project in urban areas. This will be reported following consultation with the local
municipality.
o Construction: The next step is to begin assembly of the greenhouse. This process
should take no longer than 2-3 weeks. Upon completion the greenhouse will
measure to 41’6” by 72’ with a side wall height of 9’.
o Hiring: At this point in the project the employees will be hired to set up the necessary
planting equipment and begin the planting process. Overall I suggest that 2
professional employees be hired and 2-4 laborers be hired to work the greenhouse. It
is essential that the professionals have a vast knowledge of greenhouse planting in
order for this project to run successfully. The laborers only need to be able-bodied
and enthusiastic about the opportunity to improve their community.
o Planting: Following the hiring process, planting should begin. All technical work
should be handled by employees with a professional background in botany while
unskilled labor should be delegated to those without. This will greatly reduce the
potential for mistakes.

10. 10
o When?
 Assuming work on this project begins in January, this project should be
complete and running by May of the same year.
 Land acquisition should take no more than 30 days.
 Meeting with proper local officials and municipal employees to obtain
permits should take about 2 weeks.
 The construction process should take 2-3 weeks. However, given the
nature of the contracting business, I recommend a set time frame of 1
month. The reason this may seem like such a short time is because the
construction process merely consists of assembling the greenhouse and the
equipment that goes inside it.
 The hiring process will take 1-2 weeks maximum. Upon obtaining permits
we will begin to advertise the positions available in order to give proper
time for response.
 When the greenhouse is constructed and the staff is hired, the planting
process will begin. My projection for completion of this project does take
into account the time it takes for the plants to mature, which will vary by
plant species. The seeds will take 1-2 weeks to be planted.
o Why will plan this work?
 This plan addresses a major issue: Limited Supermarket Availability.
Although this project is not-for-profit, I would like the problem to be
viewed from a business point of view. What you have is a lack of supply
in an area with a great demand. Since the supply is out of reach the prices
experience a dramatic markup. If the supply is brought closer, then the
prices can be reduced greatly and the demand can finally be met.
 This project will also promote a great sense of support. At the low prices
for the produce, the local community could very well feel a sense of
connectedness with the program because they know someone is looking
out for their interests and not just interested in taking advantage of
unfortunate circumstances.
 The final reason why this plan will be successful is because it is simple.
This project depends on startup funding and professional growers who are
knowledgeable in their field and care about what they do. This gives my
plan little room for failure.
Staffing
o For the construction of the greenhouse a well-reputable contractor will be hired in
to ensure it will be built in a timely fashion.
o The staff working the greenhouse will consist of 4 employees.
 2 of these employees will be high school graduates with the proper
knowledge and experience in greenhouse growing. The reason I do not
suggest requiring a degree is because in a low-income urban area it will be
quite difficult to find a person who has a degree in the area we are looking
for. It may also be of interest to hire botany students from the Rutgers

11. 11
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences whom can use the
opportunity to gain credit and experience towards a degree.
 The other 2-4 employees will be hired to handle the day to day grunt
work. No measurable skill or qualification will be needed beyond a good
work ethic and the ability to work 4 days a week for a total of 20 hours.
 It may be noted that above states the professional employees will work
one more day a week than the other employees. This extra day is simply to
allow for any technical work that may need to be accomplished.
Evaluation: Measuring Progress
The success of this project will be determined two ways: sustainability of the greenhouse and a
measure of the effect this project has on children and adolescents in Trenton, New Jersey.
The sustainability of this project can be measured simply by whether or not the greenhouse is
financially supporting itself after 2 years. The reason I suggest two years is because it may take
some time for the local community to acclimate to a new food hub.
After reviewing the numbers, it is clear that it will not take very much business in order for this
non-profit to be sustainable. Shown below are projections for business:
 The findings below are based on the projection that 600 people in the Trenton
area spend $3.00 on produce each week for 1 year.
o 600 people * $3.00 = $1,800 per week * 52 weeks = $93,600.00
o In order for this project to sustainably run it must bring in a total of
approximately $76,540 per year.
o Given that the projection shown suggests $3.00 spent per week by 600
residents (out of a total of ~84,000 residents), I would estimate that this
project will bring in even more money than projected. This should go
towards phasing more greenhouses into areas of Trenton as well as other
low-income urban areas that could benefit from this project.
The other way we measure success is to gather data on the energy level, BMI, and overall health
of children and adolescents in the local community. Although one could gather this information
independently, I suggest collaborating with the Center for Disease Control. The CDC already
gathers this information annually and reports it better than any other organization. Not to
mention this will cut the cost of measuring success ourselves.
Sustainability
Within 2 years of being up and running the greenhouse will be completely self-sustainable. The
majority of the amount of capital needed is for one-time expenses. As previously stated, the cost
to keep a commercial greenhouse running in Trenton for a year will be approximately $73,000.
Considering the local population and demand, this number will be easily met.
Displayed below is a pie chart indicating how much of the total cost is recurring versus one-time.

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There is little to no competition for produce in these areas and the product will be available for a
far lower price than anywhere else can afford to offer. Not only that but produce is a necessity to
being healthy and the greenhouse in the community will be convenient, affordable, and
consistently stocked with fresh produce.
$73,000
250,000
Recurring V. One-Time Costs
Recurring One-Time

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Budget
Overall Expenses
Expense Cost Quantity Tax Total
Greenhouse $35,000 1 $2,450 $37,450
Land $190,000 1 $13,300 $203,300
Installation $6,000 1 $420 $6,420
Maintenance $15,000 NA $1,050 $16,050
Supply $6,000 1 $420 $6,420
Professional $14/hour,
1,300 hours
2 NA $36,400
Laborer $9/hour,
1,040 hours
2 NA $18,720
Total $35,280 $324,760
The table above shows the total expenses for one year.
The table below shows recurring expenses. This does not take into account inflation.
In the recurring expenses table, it is important to note that the maintenance fee has dropped. This
number is $5,000 less than in the overall expenses table. This is to account for incidents of
breakage and mistakes made during startup.
Recurring Expenses
Expense Cost Quantity Tax Total
Maintenance $10,000 NA $700 $10,700
Supply $6,000 1 $420 $6,420
Professional $14/hour,
~1,300 hours
2 NA $36,400
Laborer $9/hour,
~1,040 hours
2-4 NA $18,720-
$37,440
Total $1,120 $72,240-
$90,960

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In Closing:
Obesity and overweight are so detrimental to people’s physical and mental well-being that it can
no longer be ignored. This problem has proved to us that time without action only makes it a
greater issue. The Obama administration is currently supporting projects to lower obesity rates,
making this an optimal time to work on this issue. Together we can finally begin to effectively
fight back against obesity and change the lives of people not only in Trenton, NJ, but also in low-
income urban areas across the country. This has the potential to change the way thousands and
even millions of people live their lives and will do just that if the proper funding is made
available. My project will benefit the health of the population in Trenton as well as increase
commerce in the area. I have high hopes that we can go through with this project to combat
obesity and overweight in youth.
I encourage you to reach out to me at my email: wts36@scarletmail.edu or phone number: (908)-
268-6766 to follow up and ask any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and
consideration.

15. 15
References
(2010). Newark BMI data. Food Environment. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
http://www.rwjf.org/en/research-publications/find-rwjf-research/2010/01/new-jersey-
childhood-obesity-study.html
(2013). Trenton: location. Encyclopedia Brittanica.
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-55148/Trenton-NJ
Barrett, Diane (2010). Maximizing the Nutritional Value of Fruits & Vegetables, 40-44
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/234-780.pdf
Brooks, Megan (2010). Obese kids more apt to be bullied, study confirms. Reuters US
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/05/03/us-obese-s-idUSTRE6421XQ20100503
Grambrell, Donna (2011). Methodology for Identifying Limited Supermarket Access (LSA)
areas. Searching for Markets: The Geography of Inequitable Access to Healthy &
Affordable Food in the United States. US Department of the Treasury, p.11.
http://www.cdfifund.gov/what_we_do/resources/SearchingForMarkets_Report_web_Lo
w_%20Res.pdf
Heyboer, Kelly & Vries, Karl de (2011, August 8). Stranded in 'food deserts,' hundreds of
thousands of N.J. residents lack access to healthy, fresh food. New Jersey Real-Time
News.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/stranded_in_food_deserts_hundr.html

16. 16
Nash, Elizabeth (2011). Financing healthy food options. Limited Supermarket Access (LSA)
Status. The Policy Map.
http://www.policymap.com/blog/2011/11/policymap-featured-in-cdfi-fund-limited-
supermarket-access-study-project/
Sharma, Arya (2010). Obesity and suicidality in youth. Dr. Sharma’s Obesity Notes
http://www.drsharma.ca/obesity-and-suicidality-in-youth.html