On Friday, February 19, 2010, the Obama Administration released the details of the new, $400 million Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). The HFFI aims to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthier food products in under-served areas in rural and urban communities across America.The HFFI, which is a partnership between the Departments of Agriculture, Treasury, and Health and Human Services, does this by encouraging grocery stores "and other healthy food retailers," via financial and technical assistance, to build stores and other retail options in under-served areas. These "interventions" should "expand access to nutritious foods."
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) news release, one of the primary aims of the HFFI is to deal with a phenomenon known as "food deserts." A food desert, often found in "economically distressed areas," are communities that lack access to healthy foods because of a lack of grocery stores and healthy food retail options. Instead, these areas are often served by fast food restaurants, corner stores, or smaller markets that do not carry as many healthy food options for costumers to chose from.
By launching this effort, the administration hopes to confront the food desert issue while also creating jobs, rejuvenating local economies, and cutting down on health care costs as a lack of access to healthy, affordable foods "can lead to higher levels of obesity and other diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer [,]" states the USDA news release.
The HFFI runs over multiple years, and it is the hope of the administration that by engaging the private sector in this effort, food deserts in America could be eliminated within seven years. The first year of funding will provide sufficient investments to improve access to healthy food options in up to "one-fifth of the nation's food deserts and create thousands of jobs in urban and rural communities across the nation."
According to the USDA news release, nationwide the department estimates that 23.5 million people, 6.5 million of which are children, live in "low-income areas that are more than a mile from a supermarket." 2.3 million people live in low-income rural areas more than 10 miles from the nearest supermarket.
The initiative was included in the President's fiscal year 2011 budget. The budget has the three departments working on the initiative spend a combined $400 million "in financial and technical assistance" to non-profit organizations, local financial institutions, and businesses who have "sound strategies for addressing the healthy food needs of communities." Made available to those interested will be federal tax credits, "below-market rate loans," loan guarantees, and grants. Projects can range from store construction to retooling existing stores so fresh produce can be stocked.
Assuming Congress keeps the funding for the HFFI in their final budget, time will tell whether or not the initiative creates a healthy food oasis in an area that use to be a food desert.
To identify food deserts, click here to check out the USDA's Food Environment Atlas.
To read the USDA news release click here.
Posted: 02/23/10
