East Baton Rouge Community Unites Over Food Access Issues

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More than 70,000 East Baton Rouge Parish residents live in “food deserts,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meaning fresh fruits and vegetables are not easy to get. This community is tired of their food options, and local officials say they are intent on addressing the problem.

The Food Access Policy Commission, a 13-member citizen panel formed in February of 2013, is dedicated to analyzing the problem and presenting solutions to parish and state authorities by the end of 2013. The commission was born after Together Baton Rouge, a nonprofit made up of about 40 local religious and civic organizations, heard community members talking about the need for more healthy and reasonably priced foods in their neighborhoods.

After analyzing the problem in the East Baton Rouge area, the group will seek out best practices and then make recommendations.