Food Desert
Definition
Areas where residents lack access to affordable, nutritious food—typically defined as living more than 1 mile from a supermarket in urban areas (10 miles in rural areas) without reliable transportation. Food deserts force residents to rely on convenience stores and fast food, contributing to diet-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Food deserts disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color due to decades of disinvestment and grocery store redlining.
Louisville Context
West Louisville is a severe food desert: when Kroger closed its Portland and Shawnee locations in recent years, tens of thousands of residents lost walkable access to full-service groceries. Residents must travel miles via limited public transit or rely on dollar stores and gas stations selling primarily processed foods. East End has multiple supermarkets within easy reach. This geographic inequality directly contributes to West Louisville’s higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Why It Matters
Lack of healthy food access is environmental injustice causing preventable disease and premature death. When grocery stores abandon neighborhoods, residents—especially those without cars—cannot access basic nutrition for healthy living. Food deserts perpetuate health inequities and economic disadvantage, trapping communities in cycles of poor health.
Dave’s Proposal
Dave will use economic development incentives strategically to attract full-service groceries to food desert neighborhoods, prioritizing cooperative and locally-owned models over national chains. Community Wellness Centers will host weekly farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. He’ll support community gardens and urban farming initiatives. All programs funded within $1.025 billion budget.