The disparity between nutritional food options between white and black communities is alarming. A majority of black neighborhoods are in areas considered to be food deserts; no access to grocery stores that sell fresh food. Food for these residents mostly comes from convenience stores which only have pre-packaged and unhealthy options. However, more smaller grocery stores and food stands serve to provide fresh food in minority areas than white areas.
In an article looking at restaurant options in different areas in Los Angeles, evidence was found that there were more fast-food restaurants, chains and calorie-dense establishments in minority areas than in white areas which had more healthy options to choose from.
However, a study done in the ASCP article that looked at the food distribution in neighborhoods around the Bay Area, and found that none qualified as a food desert.
High end neighborhoods like The Mission had many smaller markets in the heart of the neighborhood with a national or large independent store on the periphery- just like the largely poor and black community of Oakland.
Results were mixed as the quality of produce was better in the more expensive areas but there was less access to cultural foods in these areas compared to Oakland. The minority-filled neighborhoods had smaller stores that sold Latino foods and were cheaper.
Food deserts happen when no large grocery stores will set up shop in a poor neighborhood as it seen to be a risky business decision.
Yet, small grocery stores have always been there to provide food- in richer and poorer areas- way before supermarkets became a mainstream thing in the 1950's.
Smaller stores can "water" a food desert even if it's not the best quality, it can still be accessible to the people living in the area.
I feel that the mixed results of the different locations of food deserts, indicates that there is much room for improvement on the way that the data was collected. If the data gave more detail explaining the various eating habits and diets of the different neighborhoods, then maybe the results wouldn't come back mixed. By analyzing the types of food people eat in both expensive and underserved neighborhoods, one can find out that different types of foods are valued in different neighborhoods. In some neighborhoods a supermarket may not be necessary, because some people are able to grow the exact foods they are used to, which may not be sold in the local supermarkets. Or it might be cheaper to purchase certain goods from a local connivance store or from a pushcart than in a supermarket. For example, in Miami it’s more sufficient to grow a mango tree or get some from your neighbor, than to but mangos from a supermarket. Therefore, in certain areas where the food deserts are located it is unnecessary for people to buy fresh produce from a supermarket, because they may have everything they need in their backyard.
ReplyDeleteI found the Short et al. article about small full service markets to be very enlightening. I agree that these stores can, as you say, "water a food desert" (hah), and I was somewhat surprised by the studies findings that many of these small markets have a large selection of high quality, affordable produce. I think it is important, though, that Short et al. mention the lack of attention to demand side issues. Like how these small markets can often afford to stock these products without incentives from government or nonprofits by low labor costs. It was mentioned that many store owners worked long hours themselves and often hired family members who may not be getting paid, and this may contribute to decreasing food security because one of the big obstacles is poverty (Short et al.). I also thought it was interesting that Short et al. brought up the issue of what culturally acceptable food means, which is not just to offer specialty items to a certain ethnic population, and how more attention needs to be paid to demand side issues like why they found that many African American residents in these study areas choose not to shop at these small stores catering to Latino shoppers.
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