food insecurity, food deserts, and healthy food access The USDA defines a food desert as “a low-income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store.”15 In Figure 1.1 the red shaded areas represent food deserts by USDA standards, however, the orange-lined areas also designate low-income and low access communities, though at a less extreme measure. Figure 1.2 goes beyond the USDA definition, – adding qualitative information as well as including food retail smaller than 5,000 sq. ft., and exhibits all food resources in the area, including those that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. The shaded areas indicate available sidewalks located up to half a mile from vendors of healthy, fresh foods. Sidewalks currently serve only a portion of the community, and many residents cannot access healthy food stores due to nonexistent sidewalks. These maps demonstrate the unavailability and lack of access to fresh foods within the North Central Austin/Rundberg area. Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods. In the United States, food insecurity affects African Americans and Hispanics at a much higher rate than whites or other races.16 Furthermore, unmarried individuals, women, and households with children are much more likely to be affected by food insecurity.17
US 2014
US 2013
Texas 2014
Capital Area Food Bank Service Area | 2013
Austin 2015
14.0%
15.8%
17.6%
17.9%
25%
Table 1.2 Food insecurity in the U.S.18
Texas has the seventh highest food insecurity rate, and the second highest number of food insecure individuals in the United States.19 With a food insecurity rate of 17.6%, over one in six people (4.6 million people) are affected by food insecurity in the state as a whole.20 This is notably higher than the national average of 15.8%. According to Feeding America, Travis County’s food insecurity rate was even higher at 17.9% in 2013.21 Our study was able to update these figures through the Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project at the RGK Center at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Our new independently validated data suggests that at the end of 2015, the city-wide food insecurity rate was 25%.22
17