The National Center for Public Research is sponsoring a public awareness campaign to highlight food access and insecurity issues around the country. Food deserts exist in urban, rural, and suburban communities and negatively impact health outcomes.
Food Deserts defined:
A food desert is a large geographic area with no or distant grocery stores. Often, food deserts have an imbalance of food choice, meaning more nearby fringe food such as fast food, convenience stores, and liquor stores. While these communities are without enough mainstream grocers, many do have community assets, disposable income, appropriate sites for sustainable grocery stores, and talented community leaders working to improve healthy food options.
Food deserts impact health outcomes:
Research show that residents living in food deserts suffer worse diet-related health outcomes, including diabetes, cancer, obesity, heart disease, and premature death.
Communities are responding:
Recognizing the negative impact of food imbalance in their communities, advocates for equal access to healthy and nutritious food are developing healthy corner stores, mobile farmer’s markets, community supported agriculture, and other solutions to address access issues.
Community Events
Events are taking place across the country to celebrate National Food Desert Awareness Month.
Click here for more information.