Category: Food access

According to the USDA, nearly 19 million people in the United States live in low-income and low-access areas, often referred to as food deserts. This lack of proximity to fresh food forces residents to rely on readily available, and often less healthy, options.

According to Feeding America, in 2023, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, faced food insecurity. Learning how to have food for free is a necessity for many, and this guide explores various accessible and legitimate options.

Millions of Americans in low-income urban and rural areas lack easy access to healthy food, a problem the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) was created to combat. This public-private program is a critical tool for combating food insecurity and revitalizing communities.

According to the USDA, nearly 15% of U.S. households with children experienced food insecurity in 2020. A produce prescription program is an innovative public health intervention where healthcare providers prescribe fresh fruits and vegetables to patients with food insecurity or diet-related health conditions, like diabetes or hypertension. This initiative treats food as a form of medicine to improve patient health outcomes and overall well-being.

According to a 2025 USDA estimate, nearly 19 million people in the United States live in a food desert, a low-income area with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. This widespread issue affects both urban and rural communities, often with significant implications for public health, economic opportunity, and social equity across the nation.

According to the USDA, millions of Americans live in low-income, low-access areas where nutritious, affordable food is scarce. This reality brings to light the critical question: what is it called when an area has no food? While the term 'food desert' is common, several other labels exist, each highlighting a different facet of the complex issue of food access and scarcity.

According to the USDA, a significant portion of food waste in the United States occurs at farms, with crops often left unharvested due to cosmetic imperfections or market oversupply. This surplus presents a major opportunity for individuals to learn how to get fruits and vegetables for free, benefiting both their health and the environment.

According to Feeding America, 1 in 10 people in the U.S. currently face hunger, a startling statistic that highlights the prevalence of food insecurity. Addressing food insecurity in your community is a multifaceted challenge that requires a combination of immediate aid, long-term policy change, and grassroots initiatives.

Founded in 1992, The Food Trust's mission is centered on ensuring access to affordable, nutritious food and providing the knowledge for healthy choices. The organization works to improve food systems in communities across the U.S. through increased access, nutrition education, and policy advocacy.

According to findings often found on Quizlet, purchasing food at a store that does not sell fruits is one key example, highlighting that a primary barrier to eating healthy can be limited access to nutritious food. However, the issue of healthy eating is multi-faceted, with numerous systemic and individual factors creating obstacles beyond just the immediate environment.