food desert

noun

: an area where little fresh produce is available for sale

Despite the common perception of food deserts as city neighborhoods where fast food chains and convenience stores dominate, many of Kansas' food deserts are in rural areas. In some, residents have to drive 20 miles or farther to find a source of healthful food.

—Megan Hart

Examples of food desert in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a glimpse into the early history of food apartheid, or what some policymakers call food deserts. —Faron Levesque, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024

Its modular spaces will help operators manage the costs usually associated with brick-and-mortar restaurants while expanding high-quality food options in a neighborhood long considered to be a food desert. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above