Many individuals have been to a corner market in a city and noticed soggy lettuce, a moldy cucumber or other far from fresh produce being offered to that community in that specific area. Until now, many may not have known that this is what is referred to as a Food Desert. Why is it that we do not see similar grocery stores in these areas as we do in more rural communities? As a result, what does this do to the health and well-being of the thousands of people living in that community?  Discuss Food Deserts in this Discussion Thread focusing on why they exist in the first place and how we can improve the situation for generations to come.

A food desert is an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food, in contrast with an area with higher access to supermarkets or vegetable shops with fresh foods, which is called a food oasis. The designation considers the type and the quality of food available to the population, in addition to the accessibility of the food through the size and the proximity of the food stores. In 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that 23.5 million people in the U.S. live in “food deserts,” low-income census tracts that are more than one mile from a supermarket in urban or suburban areas and more than 10 miles from a supermarket in rural areas. Food deserts tend to be inhabited by low-income residents with reduced mobility, which makes them less attractive markets for large supermarket chains. Food deserts lack suppliers of fresh foods, such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. Instead, foods that are available are often processed and high in sugar and fats, which are known contributors to the proliferation of obesity in the United States.

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