Are we living in a food desert?
Most of us know that the Tri-Cities is in the middle of a desert. Did you know that this includes “food deserts?”
There is a common misconception that since we live in an agricultural area, there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for everyone to eat. Not so.
Feeding America, the national experts on hunger in America, reports that about 31,000 people in Benton and Franklin counties, or 1 in every 8, suffer from food insecurity. This means that they don’t have enough food for an active and healthy lifestyle. Worse yet, this includes about 18,000 children, or 1 in every 4.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies large areas of Franklin County and smaller areas in Benton County as food deserts. In these areas, more than 20 percent of the population has limited access to healthy foods because they have low incomes and do not live close to a grocery store. That is about 17,000 people.
Our food banks are doing a marvelous job addressing these problems. The Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance and the WSU Master Gardeners have joined the fight.
Can food gardening help? In Washington, Feeding America reports that fresh fruits and vegetables are the second most desired products behind meats that food bank clients say they are not receiving. Also, 37 percent of food bank clients are growing food in gardens to get enough food to feed their families.
The Master Gardener food program aims to help by:
▪ Teaching food gardening to adults and children. This past year, we held 30 classes for 670 people.
▪ Providing seeds and transplants to gardeners who promise to “Plant a Row for the Hungry” and donate excess produce to local food banks or others in need. In 2015, about 51,000 pounds of produce was donated.
▪ Helping neighborhoods, churches, schools, social service organizations and governments to build food gardens. Last year we helped build 16 gardens for about 230 more families to grow some of their own food. Further, we mentored 33 gardens with about 500 gardeners growing food.
How to help
▪ Contact the Master Gardeners for advice or assistance starting or expanding a food garden or finding a group garden near you. The WSU Extension is at 5600 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick; call 509-735-3551 or email: wsuextension@co.benton.wa.us.
▪ Donate to the Master Gardeners’ Food Garden Drive at the WSU Extension office or online at our Facebook page, WSU Master Gardeners of Benton & Franklin Counties.
▪ Talk with your local officials to make them aware that we have problems with food insecurity and food deserts in our communities, and ask them what they can do to help address this issue.
Bill Dixon is a Master Gardener who has volunteered countless hours to make our community a healthier place to live in. The Benton-Franklin Community Health Alliance’s monthly food column discusses how to reduce the risk or severity of health problems by eating better. Find more information at www.bfcha.org.
This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 4:59 AM with the headline "Are we living in a food desert?."