Food Deserts in Our Community Presented by Micheline Hynes - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Food Deserts in Our Community Presented by Micheline Hynes

Prevalence of Food Insecurity

The prevalence of food insecurity varied considerably among household types. Rates of food insecurity were higher than the national average (11.1%) for the following groups: Food Insecurity  All households with children (13.9%) by Household  Households with children under age 6 (14.3%) Characteristics  Households with children headed by a single woman (27.8%)  Households with children headed by a single man (15.9%) https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food- security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx

The prevalence of food insecurity varied considerably among household types. Rates of food insecurity were higher than the national average (11.1%) for the following groups:  Women living alone (14.2%) Food Insecurity  Men living alone (12.5%) by Household  Black, non-Hispanic households (21.2%) Characteristics  Hispanic households (16.2%)  Low-income households (29.1%) https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key- statistics-graphics.aspx

Geographic Factors https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx

Geographic Factors

Life in a Dallas- Fort Worth Food Desert https://dfwchild.com/2019/03/25/life-in-a-dallas-fort-worth-food-desert/

Life in a Dallas-Fort Worth Food Desert https://dfwchild.com/2019/03/25/life-in-a-dallas-fort-worth-food-desert/

Life in a Dallas-Fort Worth Food Desert https://dfwchild.com/2019/03/25/life-in-a-dallas-fort-worth-food-desert/

USDA’s Economic Research Service previously identified more than 6,500 food desert tracts in the United States based on 2000 Census and 2006 data on locations of supermarkets, supercenters, and large grocery stores. (Characteristics and Influential Factors of Food Deserts, 2012) What Is a Food Desert?

Food Desert: An area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food. The Great Food Oasis: An area with higher access to supermarkets or Debate: Is vegetable shops with fresh foods, which is called a food oasis. ‘Food Desert’ Food Swamp: Areas with a high-density of establishments selling Really the high-calorie fast food and junk food, relative to healthier food options. Right Term? Food Apartheid: Policies, systems, norms and values that result in inequitable access to food on grounds of race.

The Great Debate: Is ‘Food Desert’ Really the Right Term?

Institutional Racism: The system of policies, practices, norms and values that result in differential access to goods, services and opportunities in society by “race” Race & Structural Racism: Is the way our policies and institutions interact, often invisibly to produce barriers to opportunity, leading to racial disparities Ethnicity These forms of racism have resulted in, among other things, Generational Poverty and Health Disparities (Structural Racism in the Emergency Food System)

Race & Ethnicity

Race & Ethnicity

Race & Ethnicity

Race & Ethnicity

• Children are in a critical time of development, both physically and intellectually and have a significantly limited ability to obtain resources independently. • Not having enough healthy food can have serious implications for a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement and future economic Age prosperity. • Research shows an association between food insecurity and delayed development in young children; risk of chronic illnesses like asthma and anemia; and behavioral problems like hyperactivity, anxiety and aggression in school-age children.

• Seniors have a lower than national average rate of food insecurity at 7.3% (2018 data), however it is higher than pre-recession levels (2007), and varies widely by state. In North Texas, the rate is 9% (2018 data). • Seniors may also have a reduced ability to prepare food for themselves, have special dietary needs, and Age are prone to under-report need. • Food insecure seniors are more likely to have chronic health conditions such as depression, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, and physical limitations. https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/senior-hunger-research

Women are more likely to experience: • Gender-based pay discrimination • Violence in the home Gender • Significantly more responsibility for children • Higher risk of obesity • Depression • Gestational diabetes, iron deficiency and low birth weight when pregnant https://frac.org/blog/impact-food-insecurity-womens-health

Economic Factors

Economic Factors https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/

Economic Factors https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/

Economic Factors https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/

How do People Cope? https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger

There are 6 areas that need to be developed to better serve vulnerable populations: 1. Policy and Planning —County, City, and Institutional/Organizational Levels 2. Training to Build Understanding —Staff must understand the populations’ Improving unique histories and current needs Service to 3. Training for Application and Practice —Staff must know how and have practiced adapting interventions Vulnerable 4. Communications —information and materials must either be inclusive or tailored to each audience Populations 5. Active, Ongoing Collaboration —Relationships and joint-efforts with community leaders within the population must be in the forefront 6. Adjust Measurements and Evaluations —Assessments must be developed from the perspective of the person being served

News/Blogs:  What is Food Apartheid? (The Green Dandelion, Feb 11, 2019)  FoodApartheid:The Root of the Problem with America’sGroceries (The Guardian, May 15, 2018)  How to Combat ‘Food Deserts’ and Food Swamps (Healthline, Sept 24, 2018)  Strengthening Local Food Systems (The Good Food Blog, June 9, 2020) Suggested Reading Research:  Interactive Food Desert Locator Map (USDA Economic Research Service)  Characteristics and Influential Factors of Food Deserts (USDA Economic Research Service, August 2012)  Eliminating Food DesertsWon’t Cure Nutritional Inequality (The National Bureau of Economic Research, February 2018)

Micheline Hynes 817-857-7122 Thank Director, Community Nutrition nutrition@tafb.org Tarrant Area Food Bank You! Past Chair tarrantcountyfoodpolicycouncil@gmail.com Tarrant County Food Policy Council