food desert
noun
: an area where little fresh produce is available for sale
Despite the common perception of food deserts as city neighborhoods where fast food chains and convenience stores dominate, many of Kansas' food deserts are in rural areas. In some, residents have to drive 20 miles or farther to find a source of healthful food.—
Megan Hart
Megan HartExamples of food desert in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During the last sea lion surge in 2009, there was also a big school of anchovies off the bay — but food deserts for the sea lions elsewhere, Ratner said.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
As a result of racist housing policies and governmental neglect, many children have been exposed to lead in their water or paint, live in food deserts and deal with other environmental stressors that affect their development.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024
Why Wegmans chose Ballantyne Yet again, a traditional grocer overlooks Charlotte’s West Charlotte food desert area, choosing the more affluent south Charlotte location.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
The company helps combat food waste but also tackles food deserts and health disparities with its nutrition classes and in-kind support to communities.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The impoverished food desert plagued by vacant lots, few job opportunities and gang and gun violence is where the Blackwells, parents to three children, have lived for a decade.
—Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
About 40% of South L.A. residents live in a food desert, according to USC’s Institute for Food System Equity.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Economists and public health experts noted that eating habits are hard to break and food deserts offer few options that allow consumers to switch things up.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Their growth has emanated from a clever strategy: catering to cities that want to address their food deserts.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
As a result of racist housing policies and governmental neglect, many children have been exposed to lead in their water or paint, live in food deserts and deal with other environmental stressors that affect their development.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024
Why Wegmans chose Ballantyne Yet again, a traditional grocer overlooks Charlotte’s West Charlotte food desert area, choosing the more affluent south Charlotte location.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
The company helps combat food waste but also tackles food deserts and health disparities with its nutrition classes and in-kind support to communities.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The impoverished food desert plagued by vacant lots, few job opportunities and gang and gun violence is where the Blackwells, parents to three children, have lived for a decade.
—Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
About 40% of South L.A. residents live in a food desert, according to USC’s Institute for Food System Equity.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Economists and public health experts noted that eating habits are hard to break and food deserts offer few options that allow consumers to switch things up.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Their growth has emanated from a clever strategy: catering to cities that want to address their food deserts.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'food desert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Food desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20desert. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
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