food desert
nounDefinition of food desert
: an area where little fresh produce is available for sale
Despite the common perception of food deserts as city neighborhoods where fast food chains and convenience stores dominate, many of Kansas' food deserts are in rural areas. In some, residents have to drive 20 miles or farther to find a source of healthful food.— Megan Hart
Examples of food desert in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a 2017 report to the Dallas City Council, census tracts showed food deserts to be most concentrated in southeast and western parts of the city. — Hayat Norimine, Dallas News, "Tens of thousands of Dallas County residents at risk of losing SNAP benefits, policy experts say," 22 Aug. 2019 Using food as a catalyst for community involvement, community empowerment and healthful eating, Black South Side food activists and entrepreneurs are bringing change to neighborhoods commonly thought of as food deserts. — Natalie Wade, chicagotribune.com, "Activists and farmers tackle food deserts on Chicago’s South Side — 'Food is a tool of resistance’," 28 June 2019 Atif Bostic, executive director of the food access nonprofit Uplift Solutions, said the innovative program will benefit those people living in food deserts. — Yesha Callahan, Essence, "Lyft Offering $2.50 Grocery Store Rides In Disadvantaged Philly Neighborhoods," 16 Aug. 2019 For instance, Buttigieg said, food deserts—neighborhoods that lack access to grocery stores and fresh food—have a relationship to redlining, a practice in which lending organizations will decline mortgages for certain areas. — Melanie Eversley, Fortune, "2020 Candidates Focus on Criminal Justice, White Supremacy at Forum Before Black Journalists Convention," 12 Aug. 2019 Indianapolis has also been labeled as one of the largest food deserts in the nation, with some 18 percent of Marion County residents struggling with chronic food accessibility issues. — Casey Smith, Indianapolis Star, "'Food access is an issue': Canal walk kicks off Hunger Awareness Week," 20 July 2019 That fight is very necessary, particularly for those living in food deserts where produce is scarce. — Michelle Stacey, Allure, "The "Food as Medicine" Doctrine Hurts More Than It Helps," 8 Aug. 2019 Jywanza says that what the community is suffering from is not a food desert. — Demi Vaughn, Indianapolis Star, "Flanner House opening bodega to address 'food apartheid' in northwest neighborhood," 9 June 2019 Around 140,000 Birmingham residents (or 69 percent of the city’s population) live in food deserts, according to city officials. — Anna Beahm | [email protected], al.com, "Farmer’s market at Birmingham bus station to open in August," 11 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'food desert.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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