The Food Desert indicator is the proportion of neighborhood households located in an area where more than 30% of residents live in poverty and are located at least a 1/2 mile away from a supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store. The USDA developed and defined food desert areas used in this indicator. The list of supermarkets, supercenters and large grocery stores that the USDA used to calculate the indicator is from 2010. Stores had to meet certain criteria to be included. Criteria included at least $2 million annual sales and having the following grocery departments: fresh produce, fresh meat and poultry, dairy, dry and packaged foods, and frozen foods. The higher the number, the higher the proportion of the neighborhood considered a food desert and the higher the negative impact on community health. Data are available at the Census tract level from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Food deserts may either have no food access or are served only by fast food restaurants and convenience stores that offer few healthy, affordable options. Lack of access to healthy foods is a risk factor for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Access to supermarkets affects people’s food purchasing behaviors and is strongly related to health and the built environment. Food Desert is in the Neighborhood Characteristics Domain.