Food Insecurity Threatens Sustainable Communities

As defined by the US Department of Agriculture, a food desert is “an area with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent and where at least a third of the population lives more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.” The limited access to affordable and nutritious food due to cost and lack of grocery stores in the area forces people living in these food deserts, commonly black and brown people, to frequently get meals from fast food restaurants because they are a lot more accessible. As a result, residents of food deserts have a higher risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other conditions related to diet.

According to the Food Empowerment Project, in Chicago, there are estimated to be more than 500,000 people living in food deserts and  the majority of the food deserts are located on the South and West sides of the city. Another 400,000 live in areas filled with fast food restaurants but lack nearby grocery stores. It is important to tackle this issue of food insecurity and food deserts in your city because of the severe health effects it has on these populations and communities long-term.