Planning
for distribution through, for example, farmers markets takes months to organize
and carry out successfully. People organizing it must collaborate and come to
an agreement with each other prior to. In addition, farmers markets can bring a
significant cash flow to the local community that didn’t exist prior. In
Winnie’s article, I was glad to learn that small farms in Connecticut have
increased by 20% since 1970, while large farms have declined. While it is
evident that small farms continue to increase as consumer choices become more
educated, I was confused to find out that fast food restaurants continue to
increase 7% annually rather than decrease. Perhaps this why low-income neighborhoods
continue to be plighted with issues of cheap fast food versus more expensive
fresh groceries, the two clash.
In regards
to low-income neighborhoods, “Farm‐to‐school:
Strategies for urban health, combating sprawl, and establishing a community
food systems approach” mentions health issues such as obesity among children
that most commonly occurs in low-income neighborhoods. While fast food
industries do play a influence their lives, it can also be argued that zoning
regulations contribute to these issues. Children are placed into schools based
on zoning regulations for their neighborhoods. Those living in low-income
neighborhoods are hypothesized to live in bad neighborhoods according to an
urban economic theory. Thus, if children live in low-income areas, then they are
perpetually stuck in the cycle of bad neighborhoods that are targeted by fast
food areas. Zoning forces them to attend schools that are in their area and
because they may not have funding to support farm to school programs, their
lunch items are limited to processed junk. Although this may be a stretch, does
anyone think zoning affects a child’s opportunity for better access to locally
grown fresh foods in education institutions?
I haven't thought about zoning in regards to healthful school lunches before. Now that you mention it, it definitely could control a child's access. Not only does it influence what's directly around for the student to eat, some counties and schools may be wealthier and therefore, more able to provide lunches with fruits and vegetables.
ReplyDeleteI do not think this is a stretch at all, I think you nailed it. I absolutely think zoning affects a child's opportunity for better access to locally grown fresh foods in educational institutions. It is not a secret that some schools get more funding than others, and those schools are not the ones in low-income areas. I feel that a school in a low-income area is unlikely to have the funds or access to local foods. Although it may not be apparent in zoning designations, zoning greatly influences where low-income areas will develop (think multi-family v. single family zoning districts, or mixed use v. residential).
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