Velazquez 1

Gissell Velazquez
Professor Douglas
ENG-111-42
6 December 2016
Food Deserts the new struggle in society
A food desert is an urban community with little to no access to fresh, affordable foods in
which are usually located in densely populated areas (The Real World, 2010). In todays society
food deserts seem to be push to the side as not seen to high importance. Zero point seven miles is
how far the nearest grocery store is to Cato Central Piedmont Community College. This data
shown by google maps proving how the issue is not seen of value due to it not being an issue in
our community. Others live their daily lives with struggle of having the proper nutrition they
deserve hundreds of miles away from them or far from their price range. Food Deserts are an on
growing issue in our society due to increase in fast foods, lack of proper nutrition mentalities,
and family incomes. We need change and people must open their eyes to what can be right in
front of them (Reproach of Hunger, 2015).
The increase in fast foods is a tremendous key factor in why food deserts are ignored and
not seen to be an issue. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture they dont classify a
location a food desert unless in a location thirty three percent of the people live more than a mile
away from a proper grocery store (USDA). More than twenty million Americans live among a
food desert without taking it into consideration locations like West Virginia, Ohio, Chicago, and
even NYC. Todays major issue that food desert exist but the reason behind them like processed
foods. Due to the incline in fast food restaurants over the last decade Americans are becoming
more dependent on fast foods rather than nutritious meals. This also adding the the obesity rate in

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the United States as it is already one of the top countries in the obesity category (The Week,
2013). Grocery stores if around carry higher numbers of sugar loaded, processed packaged foods
rather than a fruits and fresh produce section. According to the USDA for every supermarket
there is five fast food restaurants in the United States. A one to five ratio is vastly large and not
cared for because America likes the easy drive thru line than to care for proper nutrition.

Poor dieting leads to major health issue and Michele Ver Ploeg along with the USDA
research and found that about eleven million people in the United States do not have the access
to nutritious food that are necessary for our bodys each and every day. Diabetes being another
issue that can occur due to these poor diets in these urban neighborhoods. Low income families
were found to not be at fault to live in food deserts because at the end of the day the important
issue is making ends meet. In 2008 a census was figured out to say forty percent of the
population in these neighborhoods made a years earning of forty-four thousand or less meaning
they could not afford healthy or organic food items for their families. The New York Times has
an article written by Ms. Sanger-Katz explaining that poor dieting was not the issue it is simply
Americans do not care. This writer goes into the details of how even if proper produce or grocery
stores are placed in these struggle locations known as food deserts not much changes due to
people not wanting to buy these nutritious food items. They used their Bronx experiment as a
well-grounded example when the proper, big grocery store was in placed and how consumption
from residents did not improve nor change positively or negatively. They concluded the
reasoning to be people lacking perserverance towards their poor shopping habits and also lacking
the proper funds to purchase these great foods (NY Times, 2015).
This leading to the last valued point costs and income and what role they play in food
deserts. A professor from UNC stated, When we put supermarkets in poor neighborhoods,

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people buy the same food. He in summary explain people off their habits will continue to buy
what they feel necessary and fitting. Lower income families will not care if their rural location
lacks the nutrition deserved because they have become comfortable and in routine with their
shopping habits. An article by Joe Cortright he explains the skeptical point of view if food
deserts are an issue that should be taken time for. As he summarizes the population and their poor
eating due to giving into processed foods and he acknowledges the less income, less opportunity
but also discusses people lack of using money towards healthier choices (City Commentary,
2015).
In conclusion whether food deserts should be taken to account to be a question of value
or policy is controversial. The for sure knowing is that this can be solved with many solutions
from changing ones diet or nutrition plan to eliminating the amount of fast food locations
corporate America decides to plant. These struggling urban location need to value their health
and not give into obesity and showing their children that neglect of proper food due to lack of
income is okay. Whether food deserts should be considered a true issue of value is still
wondered but sure thing is the fact that awareness and projects can be and are in place to help
these food deserts prosper and move forward with more healthy lives.

Works Cited
Cortright, Joe. "City Observatory - More Doubt Cast on Food Deserts." City Observatory. N.p., 02
Nov. 2015. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.
"In Depth Briefing: America's 'Food Deserts'." Is the Western Diet Making the World Sick? Ed.
Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "In Depth Briefing:

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America's 'Food Deserts'." The Week (12 Aug. 2011). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5
Dec. 2016.
Ploeg, Michele Ver. "Residents of 'Food Deserts' Lack Access to Nutritious Foods." Is the Western
Diet Making the World Sick? Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue.
Rpt. from "Access to Affordable, Nutritious Food Is Limited in 'Food Deserts'." Amber Waves
Mar. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 Dec. 2016.
Sanger-katz, Margot. "Giving the Poor Easy Access to Healthy Food Doesnt Mean Theyll Buy It."
The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 May 2015. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.