Legislative Response to New York Food Deserts

Recent reports show that every Congressional District in upstate and Western New York is home to at least one food desert. Local representatives are trying to address this compounding problem. A single grocery store closure can create a food desert, leaving anywhere from 7 to 15 percent of upstate and Western New Yorkers in communities that lack easy access to a full-service grocery store. Officials are advocating for a trio of legislation: The Food Deserts Act, the Health Food Access for All Americans Act, and the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act to improve access to nutritious foods. Our Health Equity advocates for practical solutions, like these bills, that ensure widespread availability to nutritious and accessible food for all Americans. Read more here.