John Muir Middle School

What is aFood Desert?

"Healthy food needs to be accessible and affordable.."

"The official USDA definition of a food desert is an area that lacks a grocery store. This is just one definition, and it fails to take into account other social and economic issues that limit access to healthy food. A food desert can also be defined as an area where residents lack the financial capabilities to purchase healthy food because the stores in the area are overpriced. Another contributing component is the knowledge and education needed for purchasing healthy foods. Clearly, availability is not the only factor in determining where food deserts exist. Healthy food needs to be accessible and affordable, and residents need access to information about what food is healthy or not." FoodForward.org