How Many People Live In A Food Dessert

Exploring America’s Food Deserts

The Annie E. Casey Foundation published a notice on February 13, 2021.

What is a food desert?

Geographic areas where individuals have few to no easy choices for obtaining economical and healthful meals — particularly fresh fruits and vegetables — are known as food deserts. Food deserts, which are disproportionately prevalent in high-poverty regions, offer additional, everyday obstacles that can make it more difficult for children, families, and communities to develop healthy and strong.

Where are food deserts located?

Food deserts are more likely in places that have the following characteristics:

• Smaller populations
• Greater rates of abandoned or unoccupied dwellings
• Inhabitants with lower levels of education, lower incomes, and higher rates of unemployment
• And residents with lower levels of education, lower incomes, and higher rates of unemployment

According to a 2014 research conducted by Johns Hopkins University, food deserts are also a disproportionate reality for Black communities in the United States. The study compared census tracts in the United States with similar poverty levels and discovered that, in urban areas, Black communities had the fewest supermarkets, while white communities had the most, and multiracial communities fell in the middle of the supermarket count spectrum, according to the findings.

How are food deserts identified?

When diagnosing food deserts, researchers take a number of criteria into consideration, including:

• Access to food, as measured by the distance between a store and a residence or by the number of stores in a neighborhood
• Resources available to a household, such as family income or the availability of a vehicle
• Resource availability in the area, such as the average income of residents and the availability of public transit

One method used by the United States Department of Agriculture to identify food deserts is to look for census tracts with low income and limited access to food. To go to the nearest supermarket or food shop in low-access census tracts, a considerable proportion of inhabitants (33 percent or more) must drive an unpleasant distance (at least 1 mile in urban areas and 10 miles in rural areas). In low-income census tracts, the local poverty rate is at least 20%, and the median family income is at most 80% of the statewide median family income, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Mapping food deserts in the United States

The Food at Home study by Enterprise Community Partners is the source of this information.

How many Americans live in food deserts?

According to the USDA’s most recent food access study report, released in 2017, about 39.5 million people — or 12.8 percent of the country’s population — were living in low-income and low-access regions. There were 19 million persons in this category, according to the researchers, accounting for 6.2 percent of the nation’s total population who did not have easy access to a supermarket or grocery store.

Why do food deserts exist?

There is no one cause of food deserts, although there are a number of variables that contribute to their occurrence. Among these are:

• Low-income households are less likely than other families to have dependable transportation, which might prohibit people from going greater distances to shop for goods. Small corner stores, convenience markets, and fast food vendors are more common in low-income neighborhoods, which provide less nutritious food alternatives for residents. An additional risk is associated with the establishment of a supermarket or food store chain, and this risk might develop to prohibitive proportions in low-income communities. As an illustration: Over the course of a month, the spending power of consumers in these neighborhoods — which includes families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — might fluctuate drastically. A business’s insurance expenses and security expenditures might be increased as a result of the prospect of increased crime rates, whether genuine or perceived. Inequality of income – Healthy food is more expensive. The healthiest diets — those consisting primarily of vegetables, fruits, fish, and nuts — were found to be on average $1.50 per day more expensive per day than diets consisting primarily of processed foods, meat, and refined grains, according to a study conducted by researchers from Brown University and Harvard University. Nutritious food may be out of reach for some families that live paycheck to paycheck because of the greater expense of healthy food, even when it is easily available.

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted food access?

Even more hurdles — both logistical and financial — were introduced into the already complicated sector of food availability as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. Restaurants, corner stores, and food markets, among other businesses, were forced to lock their doors or decrease their operation hours as the number of COVID-19 instances increased across the country. For those who depended on public transit to get food, there were extra obstacles to overcome, including increased travel limits and reduced service schedules.

According to the Brookings Institution’s Fall 2020 food insecurity update, over 10% of parents with just young children — children aged five and under — reported having inadequate food for their family and insufficient means to acquire more food.

What solutions to food deserts can be pursued?

Even more difficulties — both logistical and financial — were introduced into the already complicated issue of food availability as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. Restaurants, corner stores, and food markets, among other businesses, were forced to lock their doors or decrease their operation hours as the number of COVID-19 instances increased across the nation. For those who depended on public transit to get food, there were extra obstacles to overcome, such as increased travel limits and reduced service hours.

According to the Brookings Institution’s Fall 2020 food insecurity update, over 10% of parents with just young children — children aged five and under — reported having inadequate food for their households and insufficient means to acquire extra food.

• Providing financial incentives to food stores and supermarkets in underprivileged regions Providing funding for city-wide initiatives to promote better eating
• Increasing support for local, neighborhood-based businesses such as corner shops and farmers markets
• When selecting food desert metrics, regulations, and interventions, it is important to consult with the community. Increasing the number of clients who may utilize their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program subsidies to purchase food online through pilot programs

Casey Foundation resources on food insecurity and food access

Food retailers and supermarkets in underprivileged communities should be rewarded. Providing funding for city-wide initiatives to promote healthy eating habits; and Small corner businesses and neighborhood farmers markets should have more assistance, and the government should do more to promote them. When choosing food desert metrics, regulations, and interventions, it is important to consult with the local population. Increasing the number of clients who may utilize their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program subsidies to buy food online through pilot programs;

Why food deserts are still a problem in America

In the middle of a worldwide epidemic and violent rallies against police brutality, there is another hidden catastrophe wreaking havoc on America’s most vulnerable neighborhoods: food deserts. Food deserts are a silent disaster that affects the most disadvantaged areas in the country. A food desert, according to the USDA, is defined as a place where at least one-third of the population resides more than one mile away from a supermarket in urban areas or more than ten miles away from a supermarket in rural regions.

Since Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign launched in 2010, the dearth of food shops in many low-income Black areas has become a major issue of discussion in public policy circles.

Another major objective of the program was the elimination of food deserts in the United States within seven years.

Watch this video to learn more about the food deserts that exist around the country.

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According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 53 million Americans, or 17 percent of the population, were classified as low-income and had little to no access to supermarkets or other big food shops in 2019. (USDA). Food deserts, according to the USDA, are defined as areas where low-income residents do not have convenient access to big food shops. These food deserts have a disproportionately negative influence on metropolitan regions. In 2019, metropolitan regions were home to 96% of the population living in a food desert, or 51.7 million people.

• Convenience shops and smaller food sellers are not included in the list of food merchants examined for the count.
• The New York City metropolitan region had a population of 3 percent who lived in food deserts.
• Six percent of the population of the United States lives in these more extreme food deserts.
• Food deserts affect 12 percent of Memphis citizens, which is the greatest percentage among the country’s biggest metropolitan regions.

A total of six metro regions have a population of fewer than one percent of their total population residing in these deserts: San Jose, Calif.; New York City; Los Angeles; San Diego; San Francisco; and Portland, Oregon.

Food deserts: Definition, effects, and solutions

Food deserts are areas in which individuals have limited access to nutritious and inexpensive food due to geographical limitations. This might be due to a lack of financial resources or the need to go further to locate nutritious meal alternatives. People who live in food deserts may be at increased risk for diet-related illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease because they lack access to nutritious foods. Multiple government agencies are currently sponsoring efforts to prevent regions from becoming food deserts as well as to enhance people’s access to food in areas that have already been declared food deserts by the USDA.

Areas where individuals have limited access to a range of nutritious foods are referred to as food deserts.

The USDA defines a food desert as an area where the poverty rate is greater than or equal to 20 percent, or where the median family income does not exceed 80 percent of the median family income in urban areas, or 80 percent of the statewide median family income in nonurban areas, as defined by the federal government.

In metropolitan areas, at least 500 persons, or 33 percent of the population, must reside more than one mile from the nearest big food store in order for the requirement to be met.

Between 2000 and 2006, the USDA identified approximately 6,500 food deserts.

11.5 million of these persons have poor incomes, making about a quarter of the total.

• Populations that are either extremely huge or extremely sparse
• Low income
• Significant levels of unemployment
• Insufficient access to transportation
• A small number of food shops that provide fresh produce at a reasonable price

The survey also points out that rural areas in the Western, Midwest, and Southern regions of the United States are far more likely than rural areas in the Northeast to be classified as food deserts. This may be due to the fact that rural regions in the Northeast tend to be closer to metropolitan areas where food shops may be found. According to the analysis, rural regions with expanding people may be at a lesser risk of becoming food deserts in the near future. Experts have not yet achieved a consensus on the features of the populations who live in food deserts, which is a significant problem.

Researchers have found that some low-income districts have a higher number of food stores and that they reside closer to these stores than persons from wealthier backgrounds, according to the analysis.

It is the absence of mobility in rural regions that is the most important predictor of food insecurity.

Furthermore, because experts have not established a consensus on the features of communities impacted by food deserts, additional study is required.

Such analyses may aid policymakers in identifying places that are at danger of becoming food deserts, allowing them to put in place measures to improve access to nutritious foods. Maintaining a nutritious diet entails the following steps:

• Consuming a diverse range of foods from all dietary categories while keeping calorie consumption under control, minimizing intake of saturated and trans fatty acids, added sweets, and excess salt is recommended.

Foods that are considered healthy by the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include the following ingredients:

• A range of fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Fat-free or low-fat dairy products
• Protein-rich meals, such as:

• Seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts and seeds, and soy products are all good choices.

It is possible that people who live in food deserts have restricted access to supermarkets and other food shops that sell nutritious and reasonably priced items. Healthful meals are sometimes available in convenience stores and tiny grocery stores; nevertheless, they are frequently out of reach for persons on a fixed budget. People who live in food deserts may consequently be more reliant on food merchants or fast food restaurants that offer a more cheap but limited choice of items to supplement their diet.

As a result, diet-related diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease might occur more frequently.

• It is possible that people who live in food deserts have limited access to supermarkets and other food shops that provide nutritious and reasonably priced items in their area. Healthful meals are sometimes available in convenience stores and tiny grocery stores
• Nevertheless, they are sometimes out of reach for persons on a limited budget. Therefore, those who live in food deserts may be more reliant on food merchants or fast food restaurants, which may provide a more cheap but restricted selection of meals. Sugar, salt, and unhealthful fats may be consumed in large quantities due to a lack of availability to healthy foods and the ease with which fast food may be obtained. A diet-related disorder such as high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease might result as a result of this behavior. In some cases, living in a food desert can have negative health consequences, including as

Numerous food deserts also have limited or costly access to health-care resources. In turn, this has a detrimental impact on the health of the individuals who live in these neighborhoods. People use a variety of phrases to express the availability of food to a community. Other instances are discussed in greater detail in the sections that follow.

Food swamps

A food swamp is defined as a place that gives ample access to nutritious and inexpensive food while also providing an oversupply of less nutritious food alternatives. Food swamps are more widespread than food deserts in Canadian metropolitan areas, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Food mirages

A food mirage is a term used to describe a situation in which individuals live in close proximity to grocery shops that provide a range of nutritious foods but are unable to buy such goods. As a result, people must go further to acquire nutritious foods that are also within their financial means.

Food insecurity

Food insecurity is defined as having restricted or insecure access to food as a result of a lack of financial resources. Families and individuals with limited financial resources may find it difficult to buy nutritious diets. In the United States, policymakers are actively seeking ways to enhance access to nutritious meals in food deserts around the country. The Community Food Programs Competitive Grant Program provides funding for long-term food projects that assist low-income communities in gaining access to nutritious and culturally appropriate diets and lifestyles.

Among the concerns that the Community Food Projects hope to solve are the following:

• Increasing the availability of nutritious, locally sourced meals by implementing the following strategies:

• Affordably priced grocery stores and marketplaces, as well as backyard and community gardens, as well as food aid programs

• Encouraging healthy eating habits by providing education and training on food production, preparation, and nutrition
• Enrolling eligible residents in government nutrition programs
• Increasing access to local farmers markets
• Promoting safe and fair farm worker conditions
• Supporting sustainable agricultural practices that protect the environment, water supply, and habitats
• Assisting food industry entrepreneurs
• Celebrating and honoring diverse food cultures
• Encouraging resiliency in the face of adversity

The term “food desert” refers to a region where people lack access to nutritious foods. They are a huge problem that affects millions of individuals in the United States and throughout the world. According to experts, those who live in a food desert are at a higher risk of developing obesity, diabetes, and other weight-related diseases.

Community Food Projects are attempting to enhance food systems in areas that are considered food deserts. The overall goal of the organization is to assist in increasing inhabitants’ access to nutritious foods.

Food Deserts*

Local communities that lack access to nutritious meals are known as “food deserts.” Thousands of individuals in the United States and throughout the world are affected by this important issue. It is believed by some experts that living in a food desert increases the chance of developing obesity, diabetes, and other weight-related diseases. Community Food Projects are attempting to enhance food systems in areas that are considered food deserts by the federal government. It is their ultimate goal to assist residents in increasing their access to nutritious meals.

Data Update: Food Deserts

Community Commons has published this article. The Food Access Research Atlas(FARA) statistics, which were released as a set in early 2017, give communities throughout the country with an updated look at food access and, more crucially, a glimpse of how food deserts have altered since 2010. The FARA is intended to be used in conjunction with the USDA’s Food Environment Atlas, which contains county-level data on food and agriculture. The following layers are included in this most recent release:

• Food Desert Census Tracts, 2015
• Change in Food Desert Census Tracts, 2010-2015
• Food Desert Census Tracts, 2010-2015
• Children (Age 0-17) who have limited food access were included in the 2015 data. Those who have limited food access in 2015
• Those who have limited food access but have a low income in 2015
• Those who have limited food access but do not have a vehicle in 2015
• And those who have limited food access but are above the age of 65 in 2015.

2015 Census Tracts for Food Deserts; Change in Food Desert Census Tracts from 2010 to 2015; Food Desert Census Tracts in the United States, 2010. Children (Age 0-17) who have limited food access were included in this study. 2015. There are several types of people who have limited food access: the low-income population, the elderly (age 65+), the population with limited food access, the low-income population, the elderly (age 65+), the elderly with no vehicle, and the elderly with limited food access.

What Is a Food Desert? Causes, Statistics, & Resources

A person living in a semi-rural location in the United States who is working two part-time jobs and struggling to make ends meet may wish to purchase good and nutritious food to supplement their diet. However, the nearest food shop may be many miles away, and the fresh fruits and vegetables available for purchase may be beyond the means of that individual. As a result, individuals may choose for more affordable but less nutritious fast food selections that are high in calories but lacking in nutritional content.

The elimination of food deserts can be a difficult task; nevertheless, there are tactics, activities, and approaches that can be used to aid in the process.

Food Desert: Definition, Causes, and Statistics

There are a variety of options available to persons who live in food deserts in order to assist them get nutritious foods. It is critical to first identify the fundamental reasons of this problem before proceeding to investigate those resources.

Food Desert Definition

Food deserts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are “areas where people lack inexpensive access to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk, and other items that make up the entire spectrum of a nutritious diet.” The operative term in that description is “access,” which can be hampered or limited by a variety of circumstances, including poverty, geographic location, time constraints, and the capacity to travel to a retail establishment.

The particular criteria for what constitutes a food desert might differ from one region to the next.

Individual barriers: A person’s own unique restrictions that may prevent them from accessing healthy food, such as not enough time in their schedule or a lack of necessary funds to purchase food.

Neighborhood indicators: Factors such as the availability of dependable and affordable public transit, as well as whether or not the average neighborhood income is near or below the poverty line, are taken into consideration.

Causes

The United States Department of Agriculture publishes a useful atlas that can assist visitors in identifying food deserts around the country. If we take the state of Ohio as an example, there are clusters of what may be termed food deserts in and around large cities such as Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, as well as in and around smaller cities and villages throughout the state. The existence of food deserts, despite the number of stores and services in big cities, is still a possibility because customers lack the financial means to purchase nutritious foods.

As a result, food deserts are a problem that affects people all around the country, not only in rural or low-population areas.

Despite the fact that these deserts are bordered by places that are not classified as deserts by the USDA, those who live in these locations may not have the capacity to travel to areas where food is readily accessible.

Statistics

According to the USDA, little more than 6 percent of the population of the United States lives in “low-income and poor access areas” that are more than one mile or ten miles from a grocery store. Furthermore, according to the USDA, 9.2 percent of people residing in the United States do not have access to a personal car of their own. Important to know about food deserts is that they have been shown to be associated with poor nutrition outcomes. In situations where individuals do not have access to nutritious meals, for whatever reason, they may resort to harmful alternatives such as fast food restaurants.

This can be most noticeable in food deserts, as the name implies.

Resources for Individuals Living in Food Deserts

Despite growing public awareness of food deserts and the potential harm they can cause, creating long-term remedies is not an easy task. Nonetheless, there are steps that may be taken to assist.

Nutrition Education Resources

Individuals living in food deserts may benefit from learning about the advantages of maintaining appropriate nutrition. Additionally, persons who have spent a large portion of their life in food deserts may be unaware of the proper methods for maintaining a nutritious diet. In addition to providing a list of health and nutrition suggestions that might be beneficial to individuals who live in food deserts, Healthline also provides an online resource for persons who live in food deserts.

Individuals who live in food deserts can accomplish a variety of objectives, such as avoiding consuming sugary drinks, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and engaging in regular exercise, despite the fact that they may not have regular access to nutritious food.

Grocery Shopping and Diet Planning

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States provides a variety of tools to assist persons in maintaining healthy nutrition. Tips for Making Healthier Food Selections While Food Shopping, issued by the FDA, include examining serving sizes, balancing calories, and selecting canned or frozen veggies, which may be less expensive than fresh fruits and vegetables, among other things. Susannah Sneider, writing for U.S. News & World Report, also highlights numerous methods that might help folks save money while grocery shopping, including how to use coupons.

Exercise and Fitness

Individuals who live in food deserts may find it difficult to refrain from consuming unhealthy foods. However, there are still methods for people to exercise and work in order to maintain their health. Physical activity, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, can help people regulate their weight, lose fat, relieve stress, and do a variety of other things. Given that living in a food desert might raise the chance of developing health problems such as diabetes, exercise can be beneficial in this situation as well.

Resources for Communities and Organizations

Food desert residents who lack the money or skills to get good and nutritious food have a significant chance to be helped by their communities and organizations, according to the USDA.

Helping Those in Poverty Find Food

In some cases, people who live in food deserts may already be registered in or be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, depending on their income level (SNAP). Those with limited financial resources might benefit from this program, which gives monies to be utilized for food purchases. A research, according to the HealthyPeople.govwebsite, “showed that a little financial incentive enhanced the usage of SNAP benefits in participating farmers markets, resulting in improved access to nutritious foods.” This sort of approach was effective in addressing the special challenge of lower-income folks who, despite their wish to eat more nutritiously, may not have the financial means to acquire such food products.

Additionally, food banks and pantries are valuable resources for individuals who live in food deserts since they may supply nutritional foods to those in need.

Healthy food may be donated and delivered to residents’ homes by organizations such asMeals on Wheels and Food Rescue US for individuals who are unable to get to sites where healthy meals are sold.

Increasing Access to Healthy Foods

A number of services are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that can assist people who live in food deserts in increasing their access to healthful foods. Improved quality, variety, and quantity of healthier foods and drinks at existing establishments; and promoting and marketing healthier foods and beverages to consumers are all examples of healthier food retail (HFR) programs. Additional initiatives mentioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include increasing access to healthier foods in smaller stores, developing transportation options to allow people to travel to food locations, and developing development guidelines for mobile retailers of healthy foods.

Educating Individuals About the Importance of Nutritious Eating

The USDA’s National Institute on Food and Agriculture offers the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, which is administered by the National Institute on Food and Agriculture (EFNEP). It is the goal of this program “to provide knowledge to participants in order to assist their efforts toward self-sufficiency, nutritional health, and well-being.” It appears that the initiative has assisted people in “improving their diets, improving their nutrition habits, stretching their food dollars farther, handling food more safely, and increasing their physical activity levels,” according to the statistics.

Additionally, SNAP-Ed is an instructional resource that assists consumers in understanding the advantages of healthy eating, as well as how to help SNAP beneficiaries make the most of their available funding resources.

Stop Food Deserts and Ensure Healthy Eating

Dealing with food deserts across the United States is a complicated subject that does not have simple answers. Increasing the number of grocery shops, increasing the number of public transportation alternatives, and finding ways to assist citizens in earning more money to spend on nutritious foods are all challenging tasks for towns and cities to do. Despite this, there are still practical strategies that may be used to assist those who live in food deserts in eating a healthy and nutritious diet.

Source The Department of Health and Human Services (U.S.

Food Deserts in the United States

One of the most important factors influencing someone’s likelihood of being poor is their geographic location. When it comes to many elements of life, location is important, and this is especially true when it comes to the accessibility of food supplies. Many residents in the United States are at danger of being hungry because they live in a food desert, which is a geographical area where food is scarce. A food desert is simply a place where people do not have easy access to a food supply, such as a supermarket, since there is none nearby.

The concept of food deserts, on the other hand, varies depending on whether one lives in an urban or a rural environment.

If you live more than 10 miles from the nearest market, you are said to be in a food desert in rural America.” Unfortunately, food deserts are not uncommon; “it is estimated that more than 23 million individuals, more than half of whom are low-income, live in food deserts,” according to the USDA.

Food pantries directly give food to individuals in need and rely on donations to a food bank to keep their operations running.

Financing for food pantries is normally provided by three sources: local, state, and federal; but, according to study published in The Journal of Family Social Work, “the amount of funding available to food pantries is influenced by the density of the population.” Because rural locations have a lower population density and a smaller number of people who utilize food pantries, funding for food programs in rural areas is also less than financing for food programs in metropolitan areas.

1. Those who live in rural areas are at a disadvantage since they are not only often further away from food pantries, but they also have a limited selection of fresh vegetables and nutritional foods to pick from.
2. In order to abolish these food-deficient areas, a higher number of food shelters and markets must be established so that people do not have to travel long distances in order to obtain basic household food staples such as bread and cereal.
3. Over the next 10 years, if the 2017 House budget plan is passed, expenditure on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often known as SNAP, would be reduced by more than $150 billion, or more than 20% of current levels.
4. SNAP would not be the only program to be adversely affected by budget cuts; programs such as Meals on Wheels and Medicaid would also be impacted.
5. According to Feeding America, one in every eight Americans suffers from food insecurity, with 13 million of those being children.

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Creating Healthy Communities – Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, in collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, has been working on the Creating Healthy Communities (CHC) initiative since 2010. The grant is financed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered by the Ohio Department of Health. Using population- and evidence-based strategies, the Cuyahoga County Health Initiative (CHC) seeks to reduce the leading causes of death associated with unhealthy behaviors, such as poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and tobacco use.

Cuyahoga County Supermarket Assessment

Over the course of 2016, 2017, and 2018, the partners concentrated their efforts on boosting access to nutritious food, particularly that supplied by full-service grocery shops in low-income neighborhoods. It draws on the most current work performed by County Planning and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, which was published in the newest study, theSupermarket Assessment 2018 Inventory Update. New data and updated key results are included in this update, which also acknowledges changes to the assessment methodology as well as the most recent openings and closures of supermarkets in Cuyahoga County, as well as refinements to the methodology and new data.

Key Findings

• Cuyahoga County has more than 442,900 individuals who live in Food Deserts, accounting for 35% of the entire resident population
• While Cleveland has more than 230,700 people who live in Food Deserts, accounting for 59% of the total city population.

• In the county, over 262,500 inhabitants (59.3 percent) live between 12 to 1 mile of their nearest supermarket
• Over 165,000 residents (37.3 percent) live more than 1 mile from a supermarket
• And about 14,500 individuals (3.3 percent) live more than 2 miles away from a supermarket.

Supermarket Access Interactive Map

As part of the 2018 update, County Planning created an interactive map showing supermarket locations and their accessibility to those with mobility impairments. navigate to the interactive map Obtain a printable version of the map Glenville’s Eastside Market is a great place to shop. Lucky’s Market is located in Edgewater.

Earlier Reports

Cuyahoga County Community Food Assessment was completed in 2017 as part of the Creating Healthy Communities Initiative, which was funded by the Cleveland Foundation.

Cuyahoga County Community Food Assessment

• As part of the Creating Healthy Communities Initiative, County Planning completed a Cuyahoga County Community Food Assessment in 2017.

Additional resources are available on the website of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

History

The Community Health Center team (composed of County Planning and CCBH employees) has worked to expand possibilities for active living and healthy eating during the course of the program’s previous years:

• Assisted with the creation of community gardens in specific neighborhoods as well as the preparation of municipal regulations that promote urban agriculture
• Developed the first food desert analysis in the county
• And Through shop redesign and product placement, the Healthy Corner Store Initiative aims to improve the quality, quantity, and visibility of fresh produce and other healthy goods while simultaneously reducing the visibility of harmful items. Physical exercise and leading an active lifestyle: Contributed to the creation of the Safe Routes to School program and the establishment of neighborhood trail systems.