Grocery stores such as those described in this case can only come into existence under a particular combination of geographic and socioeconomic conditions that form an area called a food desert. It is characterized by citizens’ limited access to healthy nutrition within acceptable travel distances (“Food deserts,” n.d.). Food deserts are predominantly located in low-income areas with a community consisting of people of color (“Food deserts,” n.d.). The reason for this is the pressure of various economic forces, which makes it unprofitable to locate stores with quality food in such areas.
In this context, the problem is both the need to transport goods to a remote area and the unprofitability of such an enterprise. A study shows that even when high-quality goods are delivered to food deserts, nutritional inequality is only reduced by 10 percent (Allcott et al., 2019). In addition, this problem is more difficult to notice due to the authorities’ approach, who consider stores specializing in other goods such as liquor as grocery stores (“Food deserts,” n.d.). As a result, according to statistics, an area can contain several grocery stores at once, while in reality the choice of products there is limited.
Consequently, this situation has an extremely negative impact on people’s health in such communities. They have to eat predominantly junk food, which in the long term significantly increases the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (“Food deserts,” n.d.). In addition, residents of such areas do not have the opportunity to choose food based on their cultural or physical needs. Thus, with long-term residence in such areas, people’s health inevitably deteriorates.
Given the serious negative effects of food deserts, it is necessary to take corrective measures. Initiatives such as the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and the California Fresh Works Fund are helping to locate more stores in food desert areas through incentives (Dutko, 2012). In addition, assistance with access to means of transportation could be an alternative. Within the framework of such proposals, suggestions are put forward for cheaper or free transportation for citizens who have bought a certain amount of groceries (Dutko, 2012). However, these are only temporary solutions that do not drastically change the situation. To make things right for future generations, it is necessary to spread the information about the importance of healthy eating and implement massive reforms, increasing the flow of funds to food desert areas.
References
Allcott, H., Diamond, R., Dubé, J. P., Handbury, J., Rahkovsky, I., & Schnell, M. (2019). Food deserts and the causes of nutritional inequality.The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 134(4), 1793-1844.
Dutko, P. (2012). Food deserts suffer persistent socioeconomic disadvantage.Choices.
Food deserts. (n.d.). Food Empowerment Project.