Food Deserts in Dallas
Food deserts are a major problem in America, contributing to a rise in obesity and diabetes, while also being rooted in racism.
A food desert is an area that has limited or no access to affordable, nutritious food. The United States Department of Agriculture defines it as a low income area where residents don't have access to a supermarket or grocery store. People who live in food deserts are at increased risk for obesity, diabetes, and weight-related problems. According to a USDA report, the majority of food deserts are located in low-income minority ethnic groups, while wealthier white neighborhoods have easier access to healthy food options. In February 2021 the USDA found that about 19 million Americans, or 6.2% of the population was living in a food desert.
At first glance there seems to be an even spread of grocery stores around Dallas TX. However grocery the stores are located in clusters, mainly in downtown and Northern Dallas. Several large sections of the city such as Garland, Murphy, Coppell are a good distance away from a grocery store or supermarket.
Most of the high-income areas (blue and grey) are located in downtown, Northern, and Western Dallas. Most of the lower income areas (green and white) are located in southern Dallas, or between downtown and a more wealthy neighborhood. There is certainly a correlation between wealthy neighborhoods and grocery stores, with the majority of grocery stores located in or around blue sections. The low income areas imply a a food desert with the lack of access to a grocery store.
In Dallas the areas with the highest unemployment rate are southern and north-eastern areas of the city. Also, those areas have fewer grocery stores and supermarkets. Some areas with high unemployment still have easy access to a grocery store, but only the areas close to downtown. The sections farther from downtown that heave high unemployment have an obvious lack of grocery stores, implying a food desert.
In Dallas, Texas it looks like there is a food desert located in the north- eastern section of the city. The area has low income, high unemployment, and no grocery stores. Other areas with low income usually have access to one store so I hesitate to label them as food deserts, but it's probably not easy for low income families to travel for fresh food every week. This is especially bad in cities like Dallas that are very racially diverse, as food deserts often harm minorities along with the poor and unemployed.
