Barriers to healthy food access and strategies for improving access for underserved communities

Healthy food or the lack thereof, is a contributor to the current obesity epidemic. Today, one in three adults is obese, and the percent of obese children has tripled since 1980. For children in low-income communities and communities of color, obesity rates are even higher. These disparities in obesity are related to the lack of access to healthy, affordable food in these communities.

Accessing healthy food is a challenge for many Americans – particularly those living in low-income neighborhoods, communities of color and rural areas. A 2009 U.S.D.A study found that 23.5 million people lack access to a supermarket within one mile of their home and low-income communities have half as many supermarkets compared to wealthier neighbors. Eight percent of African Americans live in a tract with a supermarket while 31 percent of Whites live in a tract with a supermarket. These underserved communities are often left with an abundance of convenience stores and fast food restaurants that mainly sell cheap, unhealthy foods, with few healthy options.

Innovative strategies addressing this lack of access to healthy, affordable food are emerging across the U.S. Research reveals a broad range of promising food access strategies including approaches for connecting farmers to consumers. This presentation will focus on direct farmer to consumer relationships and will examine community supported agriculture, community gardens and urban agriculture. Each strategy's challenges and benefits will be highlighted and specific case studies will be analyzed. The presentation will include lessons learned and policy recommendations to support these efforts.