Your Health Is Your Wealth - America's Food Deserts

Accessing healthy, affordable food can be a real challenge for many people in the U.S. This is especially true in low-income neighborhoods of color. From 1990 through February 2013, studies done by Policy Link documented how low-income communities and communities of color have less access to healthy food (supermarkets or grocery stores) than higher-income and less diverse communities. These communities are called Food Deserts.

Seattle is a city that celebrates its local chefs, supports neighborhood farmers markets and, in general, is very health conscious.  According to Seattle Magazine, more than 125,000 people, in neighborhoods from West Seattle to Renton, live in places where fresh, healthy food is not easily accessibe. 

People living in these area usually to rely on local convenience stores that sell fast food; they usually don't have fresh fruits or vegetables. This leaves only processed, sugar, and fat-laden foods, all of which are major contributors to our nation's obesity epidemic and other related diseases. 

The proposed Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) will expand the availability of healthier food to food deserts by providing grocery stores, small retailers, corner stores, and farmers markets with fresh and healthy food.

To Infinite Possibilities,

Jacqueline