This HBCU Is Doing Something About Food Deserts In Alabama

This HBCU Is Doing Something About Food Deserts In Alabama

Food deserts are something that I've always known about. Since moving to Alabama, I've gained so much more knowledge about them.

Back in Florida, I've always heard of the term food deserts but I've never really seen it up close and personal. Since moving to Alabama, I've learned more about food deserts and the effects it has on our communities.

According to VeryWellHealth.com, food deserts are generally considered to be places where residents don’t have access to affordable nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It's crazy but in the United States, you'd think that everyone has access to the foods they need to survive and lead healthy lives. With Alabama having so many food deserts, an Alabama HBCU is doing their part to help those who are in food deserts.

In Huntsville, Oakwood University has a mobile food market that goes to food deserts and sells low-cost fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need. They call it the Healthy Campus Mobile Market.

After doing some research, I found that a lot of our listening area resides in food deserts. According to Innovation For Rural Alabama, Tuscaloosa County, Bibb, Perry, Hale, Greene, Pickens & Sumter counties all have significant percentages of households that have major issues accessing healthy foods. Greene County has over 13% of households that have issues getting access to healthy foods.

I love how Oakwood University is doing its part to serve those in food deserts. Here in West Alabama, we have a few organizations doing their part to serve people in need. You can visit the West Alabama Food Bank to get more info on access to food if you know anyone in need or to donate.