| This research proposes solutions to meeting the food insecurity needs of 23.5 million Americans living within food deserts. Food deserts are low-income communities where residents face barriers to accessing healthy foods and thereby have high rates of obesity, diabetes, and mortality. The United States Department of Agriculture and the private sector have not yet created food desert assistance programs. However, Feeding America, which is a network of 201 nonprofit Food Banks, has already implemented assistance programs. This research assessed Food Banks' food desert related programs, services and policies that have been implemented, and also their future initiatives. Results suggest that a majority of Food Banks aim to improve food accessibility within five years by utilizing community-based food systems to create sustainable food sourcing opportunities. Such collaborations include working with Mobile Food Pantries, Community-Supported Agriculture, and local hunger-relief organizations to provide food to food insecure families living within food deserts. |
