Food is national security. Food is economy. It is employment, energy, history. Food is everything. – José Andrés, chef and humanitarian

Imagine living in a neighborhood where fast-food chains and liquor stores outnumber grocery stores. Snack cakes and sodas are everywhere, yet fresh tomatoes and leafy greens are distant luxuries. For millions of Americans, including almost 45,000 Leon County residents, this isn’t an imaginary scenario – it’s a daily reality. In these communities, finding something as basic as healthy food items often requires traveling what seems like worlds away, navigating unreliable transportation, and stretching limited personal resources.

When we discuss food access, we are describing more than a trip to a grocery store. It is the ability of individuals, households, and communities to obtain sufficient, healthy, and affordable foods – a process that can be hindered by the distance and scarcity of food stores, lack of transportation, and a tight budget.

At the heart of this challenge lies food security: the condition where all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritional foods that meet their dietary needs and preferences. Food insecurity occurs when these conditions are not met, which can range from anxiety about running out of food at home to the harsh reality of multiple skipped meals. In Leon County alone, 13% of residents struggle to find a reliable food source; nearly one in 10 residents are low-income and do not live close to a food store, limiting their ability to access healthy foods.

"Healthy Food Unreachable" — © AndriiKoval / Adobe Stock

Food Deserts, Swamps, and Apartheids

The term “food desert” describes communities where at least 20% of residents live in poverty and at least
33% must travel one mile or more in urban areas, or 10 miles or more in rural areas, to reach a food store. Another term, “food swamps,” describes areas where fast food chains and convenience stores dominate over healthier options like grocery stores or restaurants that offer broader, more nutritious choices. Food swamps often overlap with food deserts, intensifying
the challenge by limiting both the availability and affordability of fresh produce.

However, many activists argue that the label “food apartheid” is a more honest description of what is really happening in a food desert. Unlike deserts, naturally occurring environments, food apartheids are rooted in historical, political, social, and economic systemic injustices. All of this unfolds within our food environments: the intersection where consumers engage with their broader food system – a physical, economic, political, and sociocultural landscape influencing which foods are advertised, available, affordable, and accepted by consumers.

Food Access and Your Health

Our usual patterns of eating and drinking – our dietary pattern – are not only a reflection of the choices we can make, but of our long-term health, as well. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a pattern that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains (especially whole grains), protein, dairy, and healthy fats, while urging us to limit excessive sodium, added sugar, and alcohol intake. These guidelines are flexible, allowing for customization based on personal needs and preferences. Importantly, consistent access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods is essential to achieving and maintaining a healthy dietary pattern.

Consistent evidence shows that following a healthy dietary pattern lowers the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers. Research also shows a link between food-related hardships and increased risk for obesity and diabetes, not only affecting this lifetime, but potentially future generations to come.

Combating Food Insecurity

Food insecurity and unhealthy food environments contribute to diet-related chronic disease and worsen health disparities. Factors like employment, housing, transportation, and education restrict access to affordable, safe, and nutritious foods for many, particularly those with lower incomes or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Despite ongoing research, significant gaps in knowledge remain in areas such as the underlying mechanisms, prevalence rates of food insecurity, and the most effective solutions for combating food insecurity and health disparities. Addressing these challenges requires multidisciplinary partnerships and collaboration across several organizations, including government agencies, schools, the food industry, healthcare, and communities, to create holistic strategies that reduce hunger, improve diet quality, and promote justice for food access.

But what can you do right now to help yourself and/or your neighbors gain better food access? Volunteer or donate to local organizations that provide food, offer food system-related educational programs, or advocate for improved food access. Start or join a home or community garden. Attend educational food and financial workshops. You can also contact local government officials and policymakers to learn about current initiatives and advocate for further actions that improve healthy food access for everyone. Every action, individual or collective, contributes to a healthier Leon County for everyone.

Article originally published in the Tallahassee Democrat on May 8, 2026.

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