Food is essential to both our physical and mental health, and for many people, holds significant cultural value. Unfortunately, there are great disparities in access to nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate foods between neighborhoods. Food insecurity is a widespread issue concerning the lack of sufficient, easily accessible, nutritious foods.
Food justice is the movement addressing the issue of access. Access to nutritious and affordable foods intersects with issues of race and class in our food system, stemming from a long history of exploiting the labor and resources of people of color (POC) (Intersectional Environmentalist). POC communities experience higher rates of health issues due to the lack of nutritious foods. Research has shown that Black, Native American and Latinx people are less likely to live near fresh, healthy food stores than their white counterparts (UCS). This phenomenon is called a food desert – urban areas where the majority of the community is located at least one mile (usually more) from fresh foods. Although food is still available, the options tend to be prepackaged and lack nutritional substance. Once again, communities of color are disproportionately affected by food deserts. A similar term, used to address the political reality of food deserts is food apartheid. It puts responsibility on the sociopolitical systems responsible for causing the inequalities (Boston University).
To further address individuals’ rights, is the idea of food sovereignty which pertains to the rights of people to have control over their food systems, as opposed to control by large corporations. Food systems include all aspects from the production, distribution and consumption of food. Food sovereignty is achieved when policies and operations surrounding food systems prioritize the health and cultural relevance of food for the communities served rather than supporting the industrialization of food systems for economic profit. Much of the movement is driven by indigenous peoples, small farmers and farm workers. Not only has colonization displaced indigenous communities, but it has also dismantled their agricultural practices which hold much cultural significance (Intersectional Environmentalist). Often, indigenous voices are excluded from both the conversation and the research on food injustice issues. Food sovereignty also promotes the rights of women, small-producers and workers to earn decent, livable wages and ensure safe working conditions. The movement is supported by grassroots activism and the re-localization of food systems (Friends of the Earth International). Re-localization involves rooting food systems in the communities that are consuming the goods with attention to their history, culture and specific geography. Local food systems also offer many environmental benefits including minimized emissions from large-scale production and transportation, and better treatment of animals.
Many people have sought to remedy the issue of food insecurity through food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens and other assistance programs. Food banks accept donations of non-perishable foods to distribute to people in need and soup kitchens offer hot, balanced meals. Though both options can be helpful resources, they deprive people of the ability to choose and often lead to excessive food waste (Food is Free Washington). When people are unable to choose and are given food in great quantities, not all of the food will be finished and ultimately goes to waste. Oftentimes the food donated is prepackaged and canned goods which are high in sugar, salts and fat–failing to provide in-need communities with healthy, nutritious foods.
Food pantries and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) are alternatives that prevent some of these issues. Food pantries provide fresh produce and nutritional ingredients, allowing for families to shop according to their needs and desires. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides funds to low-income families to buy food (Boston University). Both allow for people to have a choice in the foods they buy and offer nutritious options for those in need. But, these programs still come with some hiccups. SNAP is only useful if participating stores are accessible nearby, and similarly, food pantries are only helpful if they are located near in-need communities and are well advertised.
Assistance programs like the ones mentioned above have been highly beneficial to many communities, but they fail to address the injustice in our industrialized food system, which is the root cause of the issue of food insecurity and food deserts. It is important for us to take action to address the source of the problem and promote food justice and sovereignty. You can do so by supporting organizations fighting for food justice, advocating for policies that support workers’ rights and increase food accessibility, and helping to educate your community!
There are many organizations dedicated to food justice initiatives, including the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, which supports research, creates networking opportunities and leads initiatives to create policy changes for more sustainable and just food systems. Talking to officials and voicing your concerns can go a long way. Getting involved in local initiatives to start community gardens and helping to educate yourself and others about food justice and its intersections with other social justice issues may lead to beneficial change.
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