Food Systems Group in Lansing Will Ask Neighbors’ Input on Food Policies

Share On Social!

More than 16,000 people live in food deserts, low-income areas without close grocery store access, in Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan alone, according to a report by the Ingham County Health Department. Latinos make up over 10% of families in Lansing.

The Food Systems Workgroup was created to address these food access issues. Formally started in 2012, the workgroup is made up of local growers, farmers, retailers, policy makers, and other citizens.

With a new $5,000 grant from the Mid-Michigan Program for Greater Sustainability, the workgroup is headed out into the community to get input on food desert solutions. A team of workgroup members will survey residents in four neighborhoods where fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods aren’t readily available.

“We’ll try to reach out to people and do little meetings in those neighborhoods to talk about access to groceries,” said team member Lynne Martinez. “Then, we’ll talk to the city about recruiting grocery stores or find other ways to get healthy food into those neighborhoods.”

Many people in the targeted neighborhoods have limited access to transportation and rely greatly on convenience stores for food.

Read more about the workgroup.