What is a food desert exactly?

Think quickly: How close are you to your nearest grocery store? Many of us don't really know. If it’s nearby, it’s never an issue. However, when a grocery store is far or simply inaccessible, figuring out how to get food becomes a serious concern.

For over ten years, Americans have typically traveled around 6 miles (9 kilometers) to their nearest grocery store. Rural communities, particularly in the South, often experience much longer distances. For example, in the Lower Mississippi Delta’s food landscape, one supermarket may cover an area of 190.5 square miles (493 square kilometers), meaning residents can drive over 30 miles (48 kilometers) to get to the store [source: Hinrichs]. This is the reality of a food desert.

The term 'food desert' emerged over a decade ago, originally used to describe the trend of supermarkets retreating from urban centers to the outskirts in the United Kingdom. However, this issue extends beyond one region and is now a global phenomenon, impacting areas across North America, Latin America, Asia, and Australia.

Defining a food desert isn't an exact science — factors like location, race, socioeconomic status, and transportation access all contribute to the definition. Food deserts are vast regions where mainstream grocery stores are few or nonexistent. While they are most common in low-income areas, not everyone living in a food desert is necessarily poor. These areas can be found in urban, suburban, or rural settings. However, the precise definition becomes unclear when considering specifics. For example, how far is too far to travel for healthy food? The answer depends on each community's circumstances: Do people have public transportation? Do they rely on cars? Do they walk? Ten miles may seem too far, or just one mile could be a struggle — it all varies by neighborhood.

Food deserts are not just inconvenient; they represent a serious form of food insecurity that directly impacts public health. Let's dive deeper into these challenges, as well as explore the solutions being considered to bring fresh food to underserved areas.

Effects of Food Deserts

Food deserts are closely linked to food insecurity. Food insecurity means people are unsure of where their next meal will come from. Additionally, they lack access to nutritious options, leading to poor diets and skipped meals. Nearly 1 billion people in low-income countries face food insecurity [source: USDA]. In 2006, 35.5 million Americans were living in food-insecure households — those most affected include people living below the poverty line, Hispanics, African-Americans, households with children, and single women [source: USDA and Food Research and Action Center].

How did we end up here? Economics played a role. Fifty years ago, small, neighborhood grocery stores were widespread in urban areas and small towns. Today, however, they represent only 17 percent of the grocery market in the U.S. [source: Hirsch]. Store owners aim to make a profit, and they choose locations where they can serve the most people while still achieving their financial targets.

Store owners are just one part of the story — store size is also an important factor. People like a good deal, and while big-box stores may seem inescapable, they are often too large for rural communities and don't fit well in densely populated urban areas. As a result, many grocers and superstores end up clustering in suburban regions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that groceries in food deserts are typically 10 percent more expensive than those sold in suburban markets, meaning low-income communities impacted by food insecurity may end up paying more for their food [source: Hirsch].

Although many food deserts lack convenient, affordable grocery stores with a wide variety of healthy food, some of these communities still have access to food. The issue is that the available options are typically unhealthy, processed foods — known as fringe foods — from fast-food chains, corner convenience stores, and liquor shops. The distance between the nearest fast-food restaurant and grocery store is referred to as the food balance factor. When a fast-food outlet is significantly closer to home than a grocery store, the balance is skewed. A corner store isn't very convenient if you're trying to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Chips might be tasty, but they've never been part of the USDA's food pyramid.

Living on fringe foods is not only bad for your health but also costly. Obesity, often linked to poor diets, is a strain not only on individuals but also on the healthcare system, employers, and governments. The cost to the U.S. healthcare system due to obesity and related issues is estimated at $100 billion per year [source: Gallagher]. Health problems related to diet are more prevalent in food deserts compared to areas with access to mainstream grocery stores. The old saying 'you are what you eat' holds true, as poor-quality foods are associated with chronic diseases, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and even premature death. Without access to nutritious food, eating healthily becomes a significant challenge.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to getting food into underserved areas, but advocacy groups are actively working on it. One innovative solution is a mobile food pantry — a market on wheels that brings healthy food directly to communities. In rural food deserts, residents are benefiting from online community supported agriculture (CSAs), allowing them to order fresh produce from local farmers. And when all else fails, some people take matters into their own hands by growing their own food, with gardening becoming increasingly popular in cities, both at home and in shared urban plots.