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Food and Hunger
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The Situation

Access to Food

More than half a million Detroiters live in areas that require them to travel twice as far or more to reach the closest mainstream grocer than to reach the closest fringe food location, according to a June 2007 study sponsored by LaSalle Bank. A mainstream grocer is a grocery store that is part of a larger local, regional or national chain of grocery stores, such as Farmer Jacks or Safeway. A fringe food location is a business whose purpose isn't to sell food, but where foodstuff is available, such as dollar stores, gas stations, liquor stores, etc. The problems are many, including:

  1. People are statistically more likely to suffer or die prematurely from diet-related disease than residents who live in areas with healthy food options.
  2. The cost per unit of foodstuffs is higher than at larger grocery chains or farmers markets.  Therefore, families end up spending more money on food at these smaller places.
  3. The quality of food is poor.  A diet of mostly processed food, which is what these fringe stores sell, contributes to poor health and eventually obesity and disease.  Also, these stores tend to not sell fresh produce, which is what the human body needs for nutrients and fiber.

To see the study, click the link below:

Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Detroit

Factors that Affect Access to Food

  1. Employment: The manufacturing base essentially left Detroit. Many service jobs that were tied to manufacturing have closed or moved. Government has downsized. The school system has downsized. Many people are out of work...permanently. No job=no income. No income=inability to meet needs.

  2. Money from Other Sources: (1) Temporarily, some people may receive unemployment.  When this runs out, then a person must find other ways to meet their needs.  (2) Some people may receive welfare; however this runs out too.  There is a maximum amount of time that a person/family can receive welfare. (3) Many people will start their own businesses.  This may help people to meet their basic needs.  However if a business owner is unable to sell her/his product or service (because potential clients are out of work), this does not go anywhere.

  3. Proximity (Closeness) to Grocery Stores/Farmer's Markets:  Living far away from a grocery store or Farmer's Market makes it difficult or inconvenient for many families to shop there. 

  4. Transportation: A combination of high gas costs, high insurance rates (for Detroiters), and an inefficient public transportation system makes it inconvenient or difficult for many to get to places where they can shop for affordable foods.

Where it Will Go

  1. Hardship will intensify
  2. Property crime will increase, especially theft
  3. More children will be hungry
  4. Caregivers will skip meals to ensure that children eat
  5. Welfare and unemployment insurance will dry up

What You Can Do Now to Survive

 

Collaborative/Collective Shopping:  Families can get better deals if they buy in larger quantities.  Several families can work together to purchase food and other items in bulk.  This can include sharing transportation, sharing membership to SAMS club or other discount stores, babysitting for one another's children while shopping, etc.

Shopping at Farmer's Markets: Families can purchase fresh food at reasonable prices directly from farmers. We have identified 3 Detroit farmer's markets so far:

  1. Eastern Market on Saturdays at 2934 Russell St. (http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com/);
  2. Garden Taste Fest and Market on Fridays from 11am-7pm at 19308 Whitcomb (http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M20630); 
  3. Northwest Detroit Farmer's Market on Thursdays from 4pm-8pm at 15000 Southfield Freeway (http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M18083) 

Cut out junk food:  Even though its convenient to buy in the short run, in the long run junk food costs more than fresh fruits and vegetables. The costs are high:

    1. Time spent in emergency rooms with colds, stomach aches, asthma, etc.
    2. Poor health that results over time
    3. Weight gain and tiredness
    4. Bad teeth
    5. Days missed from school or work because of sickness
    6. Emotional ups and downs

If you have other recommendations, please send them in so that we can post it.

What Will Solve the Problem in the Long Run

(coming soon)

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