food desert

American  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of food desert

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

In public meetings, “we heard over and over that this is a food desert,” she said, “so we’ve included grocery stores.”

From Los Angeles Times

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

From 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.

From Salon

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

From BBC

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.

From Slate