What is a food desert?

Imagine walking into your local grocery store and not being able to get your favorite fresh berry. Crazy, right? A sad portion of the United States lives like that on a weekly basis.
The term used to describe that is “food desert,” it is a category when discussing food insecurity. The phrase first gained popularity in 2008 when the US Congress used it to characterize lower-income neighborhoods, where it was difficult to find wholesome food.
Supermarkets in food deserts load their shelves with long-lasting packaged food, with a small selection of fresh food.
Food insecurity started to become an issue in the 1930s when the great depression took place. Since then there have been 54 million Americans that struggle every day with access to food which means 1 in 6 Americans faces everyday food insecurity. Nearly half of them live in food deserts.

What causes these issues?

There are several reasons why the selection of nutritious foods at the neighborhood grocery shop is limited. We see food deserts in lower-income areas, where people cannot afford to buy products that will spoil in a few days.
The supply chain is affected as a result, cascading. If locals aren’t purchasing the more expensive items at the supermarket, the shop won’t make enough money to maintain those items in stock.
The lack of government attention is affecting the deserts in a negative way. America appears to be discussing those who do not have access to enough food but doing nothing to improve it.

What is getting done?

There are a multitude of suggestions for addressing the food crisis in America, but the government’s efforts are being overlooked.
One of their numerous suggestions is the creation of nonprofit public transportation to improve people’s access to supermarkets. The plan could reduce the figures. What is required for this to work? The government’s funds.
Maybe instead of giving the department of defense 772 billion dollars. The government can start focusing on making improvements in life for Americans.
Another way the government can spend its money more wisely is by assembling a more convenient way for people to get nutritious food. The bus stop farmers market is the ideal place to include and provide access to healthful foods.
A bus stop farmers market is a small farmers market that is located right by a bus stop bench. It is meant to bring fresh affordable produce right to the person.
These ideas will bring supermarkets closer to families. Not leaving them with rotten vegetables within days and not being able to restock. Plainly to say bus stop farmers markets and non-profit transportation are both key ways to stop the spread of food deserts in the United States.

What can you do about it?

Your effort to help make a change in America’s food poverty can be as simple as donating to meals on wheels. An organization committed to helping those in need.
People’s lives are being taken advantage of, with rights to safe food being stripped. Clearly, the government is not taking action so we need to step up and do something about it.