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How The Indiana Black Farmers Co-op is Helping to Alleviate

Food Deserts

How the Indiana Black Farmers Co-op is Helping to Alleviate Food Deserts

The Problem: What is a food desert?

FOOD DESERTS ARE DEFINED AS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY VAPID OF FRESH FRUIT, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER HEALTHFUL WHOLE

FOODS, USUALLY FOUND IN IMPOVERISHED AREAS. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO A LACK OF GROCERY STORES, FARMERS’

MARKETS, AND HEALTHY FOOD PROVIDERS.

Cookie cutter definition:

American Nutrition Association Vol. 38, No. 2

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This has become a big problem because while food deserts are often short on whole food providers, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, instead, they are heavy on local quickie marts that provide a wealth of processed, sugar, and fat laden foods that are known contributors to our nation’s obesity epidemic. The food desert problem has in fact become such an issue that the USDA has outlined a map of our nation’s food

deserts, which I saw on Mother Nature Network.

Who in in my actual neighborhood has deemed that we live in a food desert? Number one, people will tell you that they do have food. Number two, people in the hood have never used that term. It’s an outsider term. “Desert” also makes us think of an empty, absolutely desolate place. But when we’re talking about these places, there is so much life and vibrancy and potential. Using that word runs the risk of preventing us from seeing all of those things.

'Desert' makes us think of an empty, desolate place. But there is so much life and vibrancy and potential What I would rather say instead of “food desert” is “food apartheid”, because

“food apartheid” looks at the whole food system, along with race, geography, faith, and economics.

You say “food apartheid” and you get to the root cause of some of the problems around the food system. It brings in hunger and poverty. It brings us to the more important question:

What are some of the social inequalities that you see, and what are you doing to erase some of the injustices?

The Guardian: Food Apartheid: The Root of the Problem with America’s Groceries

A More Accurate Way to Define Food Deserts

(The definition and term “food desert” is part of the problem.)

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The Elephant in the Room

The healthcare industry is part of this conversation. As a physical therapist, I used to see billions more spent on treatment than

prevention. Look at the pharmaceutical companies.

In my neighborhood, there is a fast-food restaurant on every block, from Wendy’s to Kentucky Fried Chicken to Popeye’s to Little Caesar’s Pizza. Now drugstores are popping up on

every corner, too. So you have the fast-food restaurants that of course cause the diet-related diseases, and you have the pharmaceutical companies there to fix it. They go hand in

hand.

• The fact is, if you do prevention, someone is going to lose money. If you give people access to really good food and a living-wage job, someone is going to lose money. As long as

people are poor and as long as people are sick, there are jobs to be made. Follow the money. – Karen Washington

The Guardian: Food Apartheid: The Root of the Problem with America’s Groceries

This is NOT by Happenstance

The lack of supermarkets within low-income inner-city minority communities is not a demographic accident or a consequence of “natural” settlement patterns. Rather,

government policies and their resulting incentives have played a significant role in shaping the segregated landscape of American cities… It is not by happenstance that low-income neighborhoods and communities of color are often devoid of affordable and nutritious food choices but have easy access to fast-food restaurants, bodegas and convenience stores.

Rather, food deserts are a manifestation of structural inequities that have been solidified over time. The structural influences that have resulted in the disparate access to healthy food for minorities are innumerable. Housing policies, financial policies, and government regulations

have all interacted over time to contribute to the disparity in healthy food options within cities.

https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=racial_justice_project

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Structural Causes of Food Deserts

1. RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION

2. COMMERCIAL FLIGHT FROM URBAN COMMUNITIES

3. CONTINUING SUPERMARKET SCARCITY IN URBAN COMMUNITIES

4. BLAMING THE VICTIMS

Source: Unshared Bounty

Blaming the Victim Argument

Even while policymakers acknowledge that food access issues disproportionately affect minorities, their rhetoric continues to suggest that the scarcity of supermarkets within predominantly low-income minority

neighborhoods is a matter of choice. For example, an article published in Amber Waves, a U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service entitled “Access to Affordable, Nutritious Food is Limited in “Food

Deserts,”269 states that “consumers’ demographic and economic characteristics, buying habits, and tastes also may explain why stores do not locate in some areas or carry particular foods.”270

By failing to acknowledge and discuss the historic influences for the dearth of supermarkets within cities, policymakers imply that minorities are themselves to blame for their lack of healthy food options. John Powell notes that “residential segregation is both a cause and a product in the processes that shape construction of race in America. Once structures are in place they appear to have a logic and momentum of their own that

reproduces and naturalizes the meanings that they help shape.”

Ignoring past influences constraining the choices of minorities redirects attention from social constraints imposed by institutions on minorities to minorities’ personal choices. Choices made within constrained

circumstances are interpreted as freely chosen personal tastes. The forces that act to make the choice of eating healthier foods more difficult for minorities are ignored, and instead, minority ‘tastes’ are characterized

as inferior and used to reinforce negative stereotypes of race.

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The no-supermarket paradigm discourages us from considering that human beings acquire --through childhood experience, cultural preferences and economics -- a palate. Note that the economy is part of the equation: The cheapness of sugary drinks is notorious, thanks to the popularity and influence of the muckraking 2008 documentary Food, Inc. and Eric Schlosser's best-selling book Fast Food Nation, which was made into a movie in 2006.

Culture, too, creates a palate -- and to point that out is not to find "fault." Example: Slavery and sharecropping didn't make healthy eating easy for black people back in the day. Salt and grease were what they had, and Southern blacks brought their culinary tastes North (Zora Neale Hurston used to bless her friend Langston Hughes with fried-chicken dinners). Fried food, such as fried chicken, was also easy to transport for blacks traveling in the days of Jim Crow, when bringing your own food on the road was a wise decision. The Root: The Myth of the Food Desert by John McWhorter

But of course things didn't work out that way. As many business owners in these neighborhoods and other food-desert skeptics have pointed out, the problem wasn't that they simply hadn't thought to offer more wholesome items. The problem was that these items just didn't sell. You can lead human beings to Whole Foods, but you can't make them buy organic kale there.

The USDA just admitted as much, with a new report on food deserts published in its magazine, Amber Waves. Highlights from the article note that proximity to supermarkets "has a limited impact on food choices" and "household and neighborhood resources, education, and taste preferences may be more important determinants of food choice than store proximity."

Five Years and $500 Million Later, USDA Admits That 'Food Deserts' Don't Matter- Elizabeth Brown

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USDA Amber Waves (Nov. 2018)

This increase in food pantry use is likely due to greater need, as the national prevalence of food insecurity was higher in 2017 (11.8 percent) than it was in 2001 (10.7 percent). The prevalence of food insecurity peaked at 14.9 percent in 2011. In addition to more need, the greater use of food pantries over time may also be due to greater availability of food pantries providing emergency food. Survey data collected by Feeding America—the national nonprofit organization that supplies food to the vast majority of U.S. emergency feeding programs—show the number of food pantries it served increased by 19 percent between 2002 and 2017.

How do we sit with the fact that 40 million people are in poverty? The system of giving out free food is not going to fix that. Even as a farmer, I have to deal with the fact that when I come down to the farmers’ market and sell my produce I have to educate people about the value and cost of food, because I am surrounded by a food system – a subsidized food system – that skews the cost and value of food. My carrots are $2. They are $2 because I am a for-profit farmer, and unlike the carrot for 99 cents that’s sold in cellophane at the supermarket down the street or the bunch of carrots that you got for free from the food pantry, this two-dollar carrot is feeding me, my family, and it means something.

Our subsidized food system, as the activist and community organizer Karen Washington points out in the interview that follows, “skews the cost and value of food”.

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Let’s Go Local: Indy’s Issues:

AGRICULTURE IS A BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRYFOR INDIANA, WHERE FARMERS PRODUCE MORE HOGS, EGG, WATERMELONS, TOMATOES, EGGS, TURKEYS, CORN AND SOYBEANS THAN MOST OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

YET, IN INDIANAPOLIS, THE CITY SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF MORE THAN 14 MILLION ACRES OF FARMLAND, 1 IN 6 RESIDENTS REPORTED BEING FOOD INSECURE YET OTHER DATA SHOWS THAT AS MANY AS ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE RESIDENTS LIVES IN A FOOD DESERT. THAT NUMBER MIGHT BE ON THE RISE AFTER SEVERAL GROCERY STORES RECENTLY CLOSED ACROSS THE CITY. ELDERLY AND LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY THIS LACK OF ACCESS.

“ HALF OF INDIANAPOLIS EAST SIDE IS IN A FOOD DESERT, AND THE REST OF THE CITY ALSO CONTAINS A LARGE SWATH OF FOOD DESERTS.

Estimated 200,000 Indy Residents Live in Food Deserts savi.org

This map shows block groups that are food deserts (purple areas) in Indianapolis. Explore the interactive version here.

Using recent, local data to improve on food access measures, we find that an estimated 200,000 Indianapolis residents have low food access and live in low income areas. The largest food deserts are located on the city’s near northwest and northeast areas, southwest and southeast areas, and the Far Eastside.

The USDA Food Access Research Atlas is a great resource to quickly identify possible food deserts across the country. However, there are two ways it could be improved using local data. First, it measures distance from a grocery “as the crow flies” (using linear distance). Using local street data, we can calculate the driving distance from groceries. Second, the USDA uses two national listings of groceries and supermarkets that are both from 2015. We use local data from the Marion County Health Department for 2018, so we can get a more timely and accurate picture of food access (including the closures of Marsh and Double Eight.)

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Local analysis finds twice as many food deserts as USDA

Using this local methodology, we found that 71 percent of Marion County census tracts have low food access. However, when looking at the block group level (which are smaller than census tracts), 61 percent have low food access. The USDA’s data

found that 40 percent of tracts had low food access. By reducing the travel distance to actual driving distance and using updated grocery store data, we find that food

deserts are about twice as common as the USDA shows.

Where Food Access is LowGrocery stores, like other large retailers, tend to locate along major thoroughfares. This provides some low income areas on the south side, Near Eastside, and Near Westside with close access to a grocery.

However, many low income areas have low food access, making them food deserts. One of the largest food deserts are in the north and northwest of downtown in neighborhoods like Riverside and Crown Hill. Another large food desert is northeast of downtown in parts of Martindale-Brightwood, Forest Manor, and Arlington Woods.

Mars Hill and West Indianapolis, on the city’s southwest side, contain a large food desert, as well as parts of the Near Southeast neighborhood. Finally, another large food desert exists on the Far Eastside (north of Cumberland and south of Lawrence).

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Food Scarcity

The scarcity of supermarkets within the inner city continues to impact minorities living in low income urban neighborhoods. African

Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans living in these neighborhoods travel farther,31 have fewer choices, and pay more

for food32 than their counterparts. When minority families shop locally for groceries they find a grocery store that is “2.5 times

smaller than the average grocery store in a higher income neighborhood”33 with higher priced food,34 less fresh produce,

and more processed food.35 The inner-city minority diet reflects the limited choices minorities face close to home;36 the minority diet is more likely to contain processed food loaded with fat, sugar and

salt.37 The daily intake of foods higher in fat, salt and sugar translates into a nutrient poor diet that leaves minorities living in low-

income neighborhoods vulnerable to obesity,38 heart disease, hypertension,39 and all manner of chronic illnesses related to a poor

diet.40 Among other things, a poor diet can influence cognitive development in early childhood,41 an individual’s susceptibility to

illness,42 and, potentially, educational outcomes within a community.43 The lack of supermarkets in a community can also affect employment within a community, as supermarkets are a

source of jobs for employees with a variety of skill sets.44

https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=racial_justice_project Unshared Bounty

Double 8 Store Closings

2015 Breaking News: Double 8’s close:

statement posted on their website.

"We are very sad to let everyone know that we have Closed All of our Stores today,

Thursday, July 23, 2015.

It was a difficult and agonizing decision to make after operating for 58 years.

Unfortunately, our declining revenues was too much of a challenge to overcome.

We are very proud to have served our neighborhoods throughout our existence

and are grateful for the many good memories we've shared with neighbors, friends, and customers. Most of all we

appreciate the phenomenal and steadfast dedicated work of our employees. Thank

you one and all for your support."

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Marsh Store Closings

HERE ARE THE 18 MARSH STORES THAT ARE CLOSING:

INDIANAPOLIS, 6965 W. 38TH ST.

INDIANAPOLIS, 5151 E. 82ND ST.

INDIANAPOLIS, 2350 BROAD RIPPLE AVE.

INDIANAPOLIS, 5624 GEORGETOWN ROAD

BEECH GROVE, 1815 ALBANY ST.

CARMEL-MARSH, 2140 E. 116TH ST.

CARMEL-O'MALIA'S, 4755 E. 126TH ST.

NOBLESVILLE, 14450 MUNDY DRIVE

ANDERSON, 2810 NICHOL AVE.

CONNERSVILLE, 1508 VIRGINIA AVE.

MUNCIE, 1800 BURLINGTON DR.

MUNCIE, 1900 N. WALNUT AVE.

KOKOMO, 208 SOUTHWAY BLVD. E.

KOKOMO, 1401 N. WASHINGTON ST.

LAFAYETTE, 2250 TEAL ROAD

LOGANSPORT, 315 14TH ST.

WEST LAFAYETTE, 2410 N. SALISBURY

HAMILTON, OHIO, 1500 PLAZA DR.

There are 18 Marsh Supermarkets, which includes one O'Malia's Food Market, that are closing and beginning

liquidation sales on Thursday. Another 26 Marsh stores will continue under new ownership.

Marsh has been closing stores for several months. These are the remaining 44 stores still under operation.

The lists below will help you find out what is happening at

your local Marsh.

Kroger is closing northeast-side store on 46th Street

Kroger on Thursday announced it will close its 46th Street grocery store

on the northeast side by Aug. 31. The store at East 46th Street and

North Arlington Avenue has been struggling with "ongoing poor

financial performance," Kroger said in a news release. "Kroger has long monitored operations, hoping the

store could return to reliable profitability," the company said. "The

latest evaluations suggest such improvement is no longer realistic."

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The Indiana Black Farmer’s Co-op: So what are we doing and what have we done to address this food desert issue

and to help alleviate it?

· We have each established individual urban farms/farm stands/food trucks in food deserts,

Conduct healthy food demos

· Establishment of a Farm Co-op to help support inform and strengthen the Black Farmer urban and rural

· The establishment of Farmer’s Markets in Food Deserts (St Andrews, CAFÉ, Zion Hope and Flanner) that also support black owned businesses

· The establishment of Summer Youth Programs to train community youth to become farmers, entrepreneurs, and to make better food choices.

· The establishment of partnerships with community and government organizations dedicated to alleviating food deserts (Urban League, Flanner House, Mayor’s office of Sustainability, Purdue Extension, Oak Street Health, Community Health Network)

· Establishments of relationships with both new grocery stores (The Rock, A&I Market and Flanner Bodega) and existing CSA’s (CCFI and TAB)

· Working to establish a CSA which focuses solely on Seniors Homes located in areas designated as food deserts.

Our Roots: How It All Began

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Lawrence Community Gardens

VIVIAN MUHAMMAD

THE ELEPHANT GARDENS

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MOTHER’S LOVE GARDEN

THE VIVACIOUS GARDEN &LEGACY TASTE OF THE GARDEN

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THREE SISTERS & PROSPERITY HEALING GARDEN

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Vision

Transforming black lives by making a direct correlation

between healthy eating habits, learning abilities, and

overall good health.

Mission

Educating our community on how to grow and preserve their own food and to improve soil and crop health. Engaging our youth in activities and programs that foster cooperative community farming and money management. Collaborating with urban farmers to increase the quality and quantity of nutrient-rich, wholesome, and natural produce in food deserts.