An abandoned food market in DetroitI live in a mostly White community. There are certain privileges to that such as being within walking distance of at least ten grocery stores and three farmer's markets and one discount grocery store. In the city of Detroit, a mostly Black city, there are no chain grocery stores, a few discount grocery stores and hundreds of corner stores which sell what is described as inferior and over-priced food items.
Detroit is known as a food desert. And almost all food deserts are located in majority minority communities.
The city of Detroit lost its last two legitimate grocery stores in 2007. Since then the city has tried to attract large chain grocery stores to no avail. Detroiters with transportation can shop at suburban grocery stores. But those without transportation are forced to shop at either the local convenience store or discount markets.
How can a city survive much less thrive when healthy affordable food is so scarce? How can those with health concerns survive with few healthy food choices? And how can children be expected to be healthy and thrive when they don't have access to healthy food?
Urban farming in DetroitThe Detroit city government has been talking about urban farming as a way to solve this problem. But I doubt that that can solve the problem entirely. So I'm wondering why the city doesn't open its own grocery stores? Not only would it solve the problem of Detroiters not having access to healthy and affordable food but that would also create jobs.
Cities create and operate power companies, public transportation companies and libraries for the public good, so why not grocery stores?
Anyway, I stumbled upon an article about this and was saddened for the people of Detroit. I have, in the past, taken for granted the variety of choices I have to buy food but I won't be in the future.
