As the United States continues to reevaluate structural economic and racial inequality, activists have highlighted the problems stemming from the existence of food deserts. The term “food desert” was first defined by U.K.-based public health researchers Sally Macintyre and Steven Cummins as “poor urban areas where residents cannot buy affordable, healthy food”.

Their disproportionate existence in areas with high unemployment, low incomes and large minority populations force marginalized groups to turn to cheap and highly processed foods, containing little nutritious value. As a result, these communities are likely to have increased rates of premature death and chronic health conditions linked to obesity.

With Syracuse lacking sufficient amounts of grocery stores but offering ample amounts of corner stores, filled with non-perishable, processed foods, Syracuse residents are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and high rates of obesity. Over 50% of census tracts in Syracuse are classified as food deserts. In particular, ZIP codes 13202 and 13204, known as downtown and the Near Westside, have the poorest health outcomes when it comes to diabetes and heart failure.

The downtown area encompasses a farmers market and three mobile markets, and the Near Westside includes three full-service supermarkets. Despite healthy food options being available, they are too spread out for the most vulnerable residents to regularly access due to the lack of vehicles in most households in the area.

In contrast to the scarcity of full-service grocery stores, both areas combined have one corner store per every 573 residents, the highest rate in the city by far. The high concentration of stores offering processed foods has a negative impact on the residents’ health as evidenced by both areas being ranked in the top three ZIP codes for diabetes and heart failure hospitalizations in Syracuse.

The issue of food deserts in inner cities and low-income areas is not a coincidence. Major chain supermarkets are often reluctant to locate their stores in impoverished neighborhoods and usually relocate their stores to the suburbs, which many describe as supermarket redlining. Lower demand for expensive fresh produce coupled with higher costs for land and labor in urban areas disincentivizes supermarket chains from opening stores in locations such as Syracuse.

Simply encouraging supermarkets to open new locations in Syracuse’s food deserts might not solve the public health issues stemming from food insecurity such as obesity and diabetes. On top of the transportation barriers that stop low-income residents from accessing healthy fresh food, economic barriers also stand in the way. For instance, 39% of residents in the downtown and Near Westside areas cited high costs as their biggest problem with getting groceries.

Food insecurity is a complex issue, and there is no perfect solution. A serious investment and public health initiative focused on improving access to healthy food, however, could pay dividends in the future. A healthier community will reduce the cost of medical bills in the future, and healthier diets in children are linked to positive impacts on learning and memory.

Resolving this public health crisis will require increased dialogue between community leaders, nonprofits and city council members. As the second-largest employer in Onondaga County, Syracuse University has a responsibility to raise awareness and educate its student body about food deserts. One of SU’s missions is “maintaining pride in our location and history as a place of access, engagement, innovation, and impact.”

To truly live up to their goals, SU’s administrators have a duty to reach out to community leaders and discuss the multiple avenues that could be taken to help relieve food insecurity in the community. It is not enough to simply raise awareness. We must summon the courage to deal seriously with the issues we face in the community and to fight for equal opportunities for success, regardless of race or which ZIP code you grew up in.

Gil Markman is a sophomore economics major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at gkmarkma@syr.edu.

Published on February 15, 2022 at 9:38 pm