Understanding Food Access: Food Deserts, Food Swamps, and Food Insecurity

Access to affordable nutritious food is, sadly, not always guaranteed. This is an unfortunate reality for millions of Americans who grapple with food insecurity. In this article, we’ll examine the issue of food insecurity and explore ways to promote food access and food security in our community.

What Is Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity is defined by the USDA as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” It’s often discussed on a scale, with households ranging from high levels of food security to very low food security.

 

Food insecure households are considered to have:

• Low food security: Reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake.
• Very low food security: Reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.

Research indicates that 54 million Americans are food insecure. Here in west central Indiana, our food insecurity rate is a worrying 12.9% — 24% higher than the national average.

Food insecurity not only damages an individual's physical health, but also negatively affects mental well-being and undermines the socioeconomic stability of communities by perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

For many of our neighbors, the physical location of their home or their experiences with homelessness impact their level of food insecurity. Food deserts are commonly studied and often easily identified. A new term, Food Swamp, is one more way to identify geographical areas of food insecurity. 

What Is a Food Desert?

Food deserts refer to regions, usually low-income, that lack access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food due to a lack of availability. These food insecure communities lack grocery stores, farmers' markets, and other healthy food providers, often leaving citizens miles away from nutritious food options.

What Is a Food Swamp?

A food swamp also denotes areas that are food insecure, but refers specifically to places where unhealthy foods like fast food are more readily available than healthy food options. Food swamps contribute to a range of health issues, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, exacerbating health disparities and economic burdens in vulnerable communities.

How to Combat Food Insecurity

Individuals and organizations can help reduce food insecurity in their local communities by:

• Donating to and volunteering at local food banks: Foodbanks are critical resources for food insecure households and the pantries and soup kitchens that serve them.  Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank collects, warehouses, and distributes more than 3.8 million pounds of food annually to more than 90 soup kitchens, food pantries, senior centers, youth centers, and other charitable agencies in 7 counties. Volunteer with us or donate today to support our work!
• Supporting local agriculture: Buying from local farms helps strengthen local food systems, increasing access to fresh, healthy food.
• Educating your community: Spreading awareness about food insecurity and food assistance programs like SNAP can help community members engage in advocacy or access needed support.

Here at Catholic Charities Terre Haute, we provide help and create hope by nourishing the minds, bodies, and spirits of children, families, adults, and seniors. By collaborating with community partners, we provide nutritious food, safe shelter, quality youth programming, and essential personal and household needs to our neighbors. Donate today to support meaningful community change and learn more about all of our programs here!