Understanding Food Deserts
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Food deserts continue to impact communities in North Alabama, fueled by food insecurity and a lack of affordable healthy options.
As defined by the USDA, a ‘food desert’ is an area where at least 33% of the population lives over a mile away, or beyond walking distance, from a supermarket with produce. In North Alabama, this impacts nearly 2 million people.
The Impact on Communities
Food Bank of North Alabama Chief Operating Officer Joshua Matthews highlights that food deserts force people to choose between easily accessible fast food or making the drive for more expensive healthy options. This choice is even further limited for people without a car.
“There’s a lot of places, pockets in rural areas where it may not be as close to a grocery store,” he said, “it may be a 20- or 30-minute drive to the nearest full-service grocery store.”
Health Consequences
In low-income areas, the distribution of grocery stores is even slimmer, and the high costs of produce deter many people from making the trip. Instead, many opt for evenly distributed fast-food restaurants.
According to a 2023 study by Auburn University at Montgomery, this exacerbates obesity and other health issues in rural and low-income communities. Matthews notes that this also affects the health of people living in urban food deserts, or ‘food swamps.’
“There’s a lot of folks we know, who we serve that are seeking assistance that have diagnosed cases of high blood pressure and diabetes,” he said.
Local Initiatives
In DeKalb County, Fort Payne only has three grocery stores with produce and over 20 fast-food restaurants. Nearly 60% of the population lives over a mile from a grocery store, fitting within the definition of a ‘food desert.’
Fort Payne City Schools utilize the Farm to School Program, which aims to alleviate the stress on families living in a food desert by including fresh, local produce in cafeteria meals. Local farmers sell directly to schools, and Laran Adkins, Director of Child Nutrition, emphasizes its benefits for both families and farmers.
“It’s such a wonderful program because it helps our farmers,” said Adkins. “They’re local here in our area or anywhere in Alabama, and it brings great fresh produce and vegetables to our students that they might not get on a regular basis.”
Food Assistance Programs
The Food Bank of North Alabama participates in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, or LFPA. States purchase fresh produce from local farmers and redistribute it through food banks to communities needing food assistance.
Jeremy Calvert’s farm participates in the LFPA program, stating, “It keeps my family farm in operation during tough times, and I see it as a win-win for everybody because people are getting fresh, local product that’s healthier for them.”
Community Solutions
Community gardens also provide produce to people living in food deserts. Alabama A&M University opened a community garden in March that’s open to the public.
For those who can’t make the drive, the Food Bank operates a mobile food pantry stocked with produce. The Park-it Market serves people living in urban and rural food deserts.
“We’ve been taking it out to Lawrence County and different areas out of our service area that don’t have access to a full grocery store,” said Matthews.
Making a Difference
August is National Wellness Month, and News 19 is spending all month highlighting ways you can prioritize ‘Your Wellbeing!‘
Matthews notes that the Park-it Market has been a welcome addition to the Food Bank’s resources, providing fresh, free produce to those in need.
“It can really make a difference in someone’s life, especially someone struggling with a diet-related illness like hypertension or diabetes,” he said, “which we find in a lot of senior populations we serve.”
People living in food deserts can request a visit from the Park-it Market by contacting the Food Bank of North Alabama.
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