The concept of equal access for all members of the community to a healthy diet has two dimensions: availability and affordability.  Healthy food choices need to be both available and affordable for equal access to be apparent.  

Availability includes local grocery stores that offer quality, healthy food options such as fresh fruits and vegetables, Community Supported Agriculture Farms (CSA's), farmers' markets, farm to school programs, public transportation that easily and efficiently transport residents to food stores that offer quality, healthy foods, and having stores available in the areas where transportation is not an option.

Affordability includes food outlets that offer healthy, safe, and culturally acceptable food options at reasonable prices, accept food stamp and WIC coupons, and travel costs to and from food outlets that are not too high for low-income populations to afford.

Equal access for all members of the community to a healthy diet is important to sustainable food systems because it promotes obtaining healthy food options from local sources through CSA’s, farmers markets’, and local grocery stores. Both community supported agriculture farms and farmers’ markets are outlets for providing fresh healthy foods that streamlines the track from producer to consumer. Supporting local grocery stores helps by supporting the community economic base. In turn, all of these practices reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources by using have fewer food miles for food to get to communities and for communities to access food.

For more information:

On the Web:

Community Food Security Coalition

Community Food Security: Promoting Food Security and Building Healthy Food Systems