Today's New York Times has a front page article on food deserts in the US by Gina Kolata (Studies Question the Pairing of Food Deserts and Obesity). Food deserts are places that are believed to be lacking in healthy and affordable food. It's long been taken on faith (or personal observation) that it's more unhealthy to live in the inner city or in a rural area than in the suburbs. This article discusses two new reports that show that the food desert concept is not entirely accurate and that some locations may be more akin to 'food swamps.' I think its all in how you use your GIS, the data you enter (by US Census tracts, zip codes areas, or addresses by points), and what you want to find. An example of how to lie with maps?! Perhaps.
In the article there is a link to the US Department of Agriculture Food Desert Locator that should be checked out. Apparently, I live on the edge of a desert. I kind of don't agree. The downtown shaded tract in the screen capture (along the Hudson River) might be more accurate but not the one near the red dot. Interesting how the three colleges in my neighborhood are not within a 'food desert' tract. Play with the site and see for yourself. Enter an address and take a look.
From the Food Desert Locator About page:
Part of the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative, the proposed Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) will expand the availability of nutritious food to food deserts—low-income communities without ready access to healthy and affordable food—by developing and equipping grocery stores, small retailers, corner stores, and farmers markets with fresh and healthy food. The HFFI is a partnership between the Treasury Department, Health and Human Services, and the Agriculture Department (USDA).
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