USDA funds $6m to boost healthy food access in underserved communities

07-Nov-2024 - Last updated on 07-Nov-2024 at 17:13 GMT

Source: Getty/TommL

USDA, in partnership with the Reinvestment Fund, has allocated nearly $6 million to improve access to nutritious foods in underserved communities across the country, reinforcing the trend toward healthy diets and potentially reshaping how brands and retailers connect with these communities.

These investments, made through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Planning Grant Programs, will support organizations involved in the development or expansion of 45 food retail or supply chain projects aimed at delivering healthy food options to areas with limited access.

USDA will work with “farmers and ranchers, food retailers and other stakeholders to strengthen the local and regional food systems,” Deputy Secretary Torres Small said.

Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the grants align with the Biden-Harris Administration’s initiatives to address food insecurity.

The projects span multiple states, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

According to USDA, roughly 40.5 million people in the US live in food deserts, and 19 million of them live in food-insecure households. USDA defines food deserts as low-income areas with a significant portion of residents who have limited access to retail stores offering healthy and affordable foods.

Additionally, approximately 13.5 million people in the US have limited access to supermarkets or large grocery stores, with 82% living in urban areas, according to USDA.

Funding will enhance local food access

Efforts to address food deserts are taking shape across the US through investments aimed at improving food access and community health.

In Arizona, for instance, the Orchard Community Learning Center is leveraging a $124,000 grant to plan a neighborhood food retailer for south Phoenix, an area with limited access to healthy foods. This SNAP-eligible store will source fresh produce from local farmers and feature an on-site, two-acre farm to support its offerings.

While Pennsylvania’s Keystone Development Center is expanding the reach of the Aliquippa Food Co-op, a community-owned grocery store, through a $150,000 investment. The funds will support the co-op’s membership growth and community engagement efforts, helping the center continue its two-year commitment to provide education and organizational resources.

Private sector contributes to expanding food access

Beyond federal assistance, technology companies also are contributing to expanding healthy food access.

Season Health, a digital health platform that integrates personalized nutrition into healthcare, works with Medicare, Medicaid and commercial health plans to introduce prescription food programs for patients. While e-grocery platform Instacart expanded its marketplace to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, further widening access to healthy food options for low-income families.