Marin Voice: Bay Area’s many ‘food deserts’ are a big problem for residents’ health and well-being

Many families in the Bay Area are living in so-called “food deserts.” A food desert is a region where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, often because of the lack of nearby grocery stores.

As of 2024, there are approximately 889 neighborhoods in the Bay Area that are classified as food deserts. This issue has become increasingly urgent because of its effect on thousands of people’s health and well-being.

Inflation and rising food prices have heightened people’s challenges in food desert areas. Over the past year, food prices have surged, making it even more difficult for low-income families to afford basic healthy foods. The lack of access to affordable, healthy food forces many to rely on cheaper, unhealthy options that are high in calories but low in the nutrients people need to stay healthy​.

People living in food deserts are more at risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease because they are eating foods rich in salt, sugar, carbohydrates and unhealthy fats.

Rates of mental health problems caused by the stress and anxiety associated with food insecurity are higher in food deserts. Families constantly worried about where their next meal will come from experience higher stress levels, which can worsen health problems and reduce overall well-being. Children in food-insecure households can face developmental issues and academic challenges, which continue the cycle of poverty and inequality.

Efforts to address food deserts include introducing grocery stores into underserved areas and promoting urban agriculture. However, these initiatives have often been defective in solving the root cause of food deserts. Simply placing a grocery store in a food desert is only sometimes a viable solution, especially if the residents cannot afford the items or lack reliable transportation, preventing them from reaching the store.

If we continue on the current path that we are on without substantial intervention it will likely maintain the health and economic disparities damaging these communities. Without access to affordable, nutritious food, residents of food deserts will keep facing higher health care costs and poorer health outcomes. Once again, this, in turn, helps maintain the cycle of poverty and inequality.

A more inclusive approach to getting rid of food deserts is needed to effectively address food deserts. This means not only increasing the number of grocery stores in areas that don’t have many but also ensuring that these stores provide affordable and healthy options and are accessible to everyone living in and near the communities. We can also solve this problem using community-based solutions, like farmers’ markets and urban agriculture initiatives, which can empower residents and offer sustainable sources of fresh and healthy produce.

We can also invest in better transportation to improve access to grocery stores, and supporting local food banks and nutrition programs can make a significant difference. Educational campaigns focused on promoting healthy eating habits and cooking skills can also help people make better dietary choices, even with limited resources.

Addressing food deserts requires a collective effort from the community, local government, and businesses. You can make a difference by donating to or volunteering with local food banks and community gardens. These organizations are necessary for providing fresh food to underserved areas. Some organizations include the Alameda County Community Food Bank and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

You can also reach out to local representatives and urge them to support policies that increase funding for food access programs and infrastructure improvements in low-income neighborhoods. This can include a push for aid for healthy food stores or improved public transportation to make grocery stores more accessible to everyone.

Juliet Goldmacher, of Mill Valley, is a student at Tamalpais High School.