food desert

noun

1. an area, usually low-income, in which many residents cannot easily get to stores that sell affordable, healthful foods.

Word History and Origins

Origin of food desert¹

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

There are 50 food desert communities across New Jersey, including densely populated cities like Trenton and Atlantic City.

Read more on Salon

The food bank puts a lot of resources into mobile pantries or farm-to-pantry initiatives that get fresh produce into these food desert communities.

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Union is also what is termed a "food desert", where many residents live far from the nearest supermarket.

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Losing weight can be great for your health, but it’s pretty challenging if you live in a food desert or can’t afford medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro.

Read more on Slate

Around the same time, terms like food desert went mainstream, defining the regions within cities where the only available food was the kind that is addictive and might kill you a little quicker.

Read more on Los Angeles Times