Owner of Arteaga’s Super Save promotes health and education
GILROY
They may sell burritos the size of small footballs bulging with sour cream and spicy beef, but Alfredo and Lupe Lopez devote nearly all of their commercial energy to promoting the health of their customers.
In recognition of their efforts at Arteaga’s Super Save Food Center off Chestnut Street in southeast Gilroy, the YMCA will reward the store owners with the second-annual Activate America Award Friday.
The prize recognizes organizations, schools and government agencies that encourage increasing physical activity, healthy diets, education and community services.
Since 2001, Lupe Lopez said she and her family have not only promoted the sale of vegetables and fruits at their store, but they have worked to educate customers and residents about the benefits of eating healthy through health events and advertisements.
Posters grace the store walls with friendly reminders for shoppers to pick more vegetables and fruits, and vendors are encouraged to feature only healthy culinary creations. Then there are the radio, print and television ads that boast, “At Arteaga’s, your health is important!”
Lupe Lopez discovered how important her own health was when she realized that her schoolgirl figure was no more. She wanted to help herself, she said, and in the process, she discovered she could help others avoid a depressing situation.
“I used to be very skinny, but I have gained weight and sometimes feel uncomfortable, you know, withdrawing from people because you don’t feel good about yourself,” said Lupe Lopez, adding that she continues to ask herself why she gains weight and what has influenced her eating habits.
“I see the young generation gaining a lot of weight, and I know how awful it feels to be heavy, so therefore I can put myself in their shoes,” Lupe Lopez said. “It’s our responsibility to make more health conscious decisions, and that includes the way in which we shop at stores. I want my customers to be more self conscious, as well.”
Lillian Castillo became aware of Lupe Lopez’s efforts to better her health and that of her customers because she shops at Arteaga’s, according to Lupe Lopez. When Castillo is not buying produce, though, she works as a county health official and activist, so she nominated the Lopezes for the YMCA award this year.
She and her family have also worked with the Gilroy Unified School District to promote nutrition and physical activity at Eliot Elementary School by hosting supermarket tours for students and their parents. Then there are their numerous partnerships with organizations such as Blue Cross of California and their involvement with Gilroy Community Health Day that offers medical screenings for more than 1,000 low-income families in the area.
A month ago the couple hosted Arteaga’s Healthy Halloween Event, and more than 500 people showed up. Residents received flu shots, and three people discovered they had diabetes, whereupon the Lopezes helped them learn how to deal with the news.
“It gives me more incentive to do more things to provide information to our community,” Lupe Lopez said.
