Getting Outside the Supermarket Box: Alternatives to "Food Deserts"

Authors

Megan Horst, Portland State UniversityFollow
Subhashni Raj, SUNY University at Buffalo
Catherine Brinkley, University of California, Davis

Published In

Progressive Planning

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Subjects

Food desert, Supermarket, Food systems planning

Abstract

Supermarkets are often proposed as a solution to “food deserts” – places where access to healthy food appears limited. In places as diverse as New York City and Portland, Oregon, planners have incentivized supermarkets to locate in these under-served areas. However, there are some serious problems with both the notion of food deserts and the promotion of supermarkets as the answer. As an alternative, we propose that planners and their colleagues focus on community-based solutions, rather than strategies that mostly benefit corporations.

Description

This article is based on a presentation at the recent conference of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/23823

Citation Details

Horst, Megan; Raj, Subhashni; and Brinkley, Catherine, "Getting Outside the Supermarket Box: Alternatives to "Food Deserts"" (2016). Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations. 191.
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/23823