A food desert, as mentioned by Kaitlyn in reference to Central Brooklyn, is “an area in the United States with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly such an area composed of predominantly lower income neighborhoods and communities.” Limited access to food might refer to a lack of supermarkets, or other large grocery stores within at least a mile of a family's area. It could also refer more generally to barriers such as individuals’ lack of a vehicle or access to public transportation, disability status, or even sufficient income. A food desert can be either urban or suburban, the former being characterized by insufficient income for nutritious food and the latter by lack of transportation.

Food security refers to whether or not a family is within walking distance from a large supermarket, and can afford nutritious food. Some initiatives to help achieve food security include community gardens, the introduction of farmers’ markets, and community-supported agriculture (CSA), an approach in which a community supports an agricultural enterprise, agreeing to split gains and losses equally between farmers and consumers. Such locally-minded projects are aimed at restoring a sense of community around food; one that has ceased to be a part of the daily routine of many people in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Sources: United States. Cong. United States Department of Agriculture. Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food: Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences. June 2009. PDF file.