The Apple Pushers

"The Apple Pushers," combines two truly American stories - one good and one bad - for one bold film. The film, narrated by Edward Norton, "follows the inspiring stories of five immigrant pushcart vendors who are rolling fresh fruits and vegetables into New York City's food deserts." A good story! But the reason these vendors, and the Green Cart Initiative that created the new strategy that employs them, are necessary is because of the need to combat the challenge of finding fresh food in the inner cities, places where health is plummeting due to poor eating. A bad (and sad) story. But, alas, both American stories. 

The Apple Pushers, written and directed by Mary Mazzio, narrated by Edward Norton, and underwritten by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, and produced by Mary Mazzio along with Tom Scott,  follows immigrant street vendors who are rolling fresh fruits and vegetables into the inner cities of New York (where finding a fresh red ripe apple can be a serious challenge). These pushcart vendors, who have immigrated here from all parts of the world for different reasons, and who all have sacrificed so much to come to this country (a near fatal crossing of the Mexican border, as an example) – are now part of a new experiment in New York to help solve the food crisis and skyrocketing obesity rates in the inner city.

The film had a special screening at the Aspen Ideas Festival where thought leaders and policy makers, including Robin Schepper, the head of Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move" campaign, discussed the film and the issues of how to tackle the obesity crisis in low-income neighborhoods across the country. The film not only addresses the issue of food deserts where low income residents have little access to fresh fruits and vegetables – but also the issue of immigrants and what they do for our country.