Talks are On-Going in Winston-Salem to Address Food Access

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Winston-Salem, North Carolina has the most USDA-declared food deserts, low-income areas with poor access to full-service grocery stores, in all of Forsyth County. City officials have been trying for years to convince grocery store chain owners to move to these underserved neighborhoods, but with no luck.

The state of North Carolina has been actively searching for solutions to get folks the healthy foods they need.

On Monday March 24, 2014, the North Carolina state House Committee on Food Desert Zones met for a third time since February in an effort to study the problem and make recommendations on how to deal with it. Representatives from grassroots food co-operatives, food banks and mobile grocers, among other nutrition experts, spoke to the committee about their programs.

In Winston-Salem, where the Latino population is on the rise, Lynne Mitchell, a registered dietitian and the personal health services administrator at the Forsyth County Health Department, said that local officials are trying to make strides to improve desert conditions. For example, Mitchell is working with at least five convenience stores to start offering more produce in desert areas, but dealing with the problem is going to take a lot of work, she said.

Read more about Winston-Salem in the news.