The Continuing Food Desert Research
While going through journal articles and various assessments, I found that having a comfy place to do so was important. Armed with highlighter, coffee, and computer, I set out to find commonalities within each food desert study. Those that stood out from the beginning such as, food education, limited access, and family economics began to meld and grow into a tangled web of connections. Each seemed to be distinct upon first glance, but looking closer you can see the complexity of each issue. For blogging purposes I will try to keep this straightforward and simple, much like this Medium format.
Education comes in many forms and continually occurs whether we realize it or not. It is vital in combatting the ill effects of food deserts, such as chronic disease due to lack of healthy food choice and access. Stakeholders, like local agencies, nonprofits, and business’, who are like minded in goals to eradicate food deserts, are essential in providing these options to the community suffering. Hattie Larlham utilizes land owned by the Akron Zoo to grow fresh produce. The vegetables will eventually be taken to Hattie’s Food Hub. Coming soon, June 2016.
Hattie's Food Hub is an innovative Hattie Larham work training program for people with intellectual and developmental…www.hattielarlham.org
The Summa Health Systems’ Center for Health Equity offers free 8 week nutrition classes highlighting healthy food choice, safe food handling, and a cooking class with a full demonstration kitchen.
Access limitations of food deserts is in part related to transportation. Mohammad Alnasrallah, a Kent State graduate, wrote his master’s thesis on this subject, acknowledged the majority of non fresh markets are located in low SES communities. To go to a full service market would require the use of public transportation.
Family Economics plays an interesting role. It was found that living in a low SES area places your risk higher than those living within the median income area. Those risks include the type of retail establishment available to you. They are likely to be catergorized as a discount store. The discount store has a practice of junk food advertising. Placing products of low nutritional value at eye level is a marketing tactic. All must be vigilant and seek guidance when we need it.These overly simplified statements can provide some insight to what is being done to counteract the food desert issue.
