Food Deserts

Aim: How do we use ratios to determine the location of food deserts?

Activity

1. Print out a map of your local area. Identify all places in your neighborhood (such as supermarkets) where you can buy fresh food.
2. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a food desert as an area that is low-income (a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater, or a median family income at or below 80 percent of the statewide or metropolitan area median family income) and low-access (at least 500 persons and/or at least 33 percent of the population lives more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (10 miles, in the case of rural census tracts). Use data from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine if there are any food deserts in your area.
3. What would be appropriate locations for supermarkets in your area? Justify your answer with appropriate calculations and research.