Food Deserts

The term food desert is used to describe an area or region that has poor access to foods that provide adequate nutrition. There are many causes that lead to an area being classified as a food desert. Three of the most relevant concepts related to understanding how food deserts occur are (1) access to food, (2) assets to allow purchase of food, and (c) attitudes or behaviors that influence food choices. The physical and built environment has a strong influence on access to food, often because of barriers that prevent travel to a location [Page 561]that has adequate and nutritious food for sale. Economically marginalized communities and populations often have difficulty with securing adequate income to purchase foods that provide the necessary vitamins, minerals, and ...