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‘Food deserts’ have limited access to healthy food

Posted at 5:54 PM, Apr 23, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-23 17:54:47-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) –  Two Wegmans stores coming to Central Virginia have been the talk of the town.

But while those stores will be surrounded by other grocery store locations, not everyone in our region has easy access to healthy and affordable foods.

In fact, the USDA has an online tool that shows "food deserts" or places with limited access to healthy foods.

Specifically, a “food dessert” is defined as a location with no access to a store within 10 miles in a rural area or within one mile in an urban area.

FeedMore’s Jeff Baldwin said the highlighted sections are deserts where the population in those areas add up to nearly 108,000 people.

The map was made using US Census data factoring in low income, low store and transportation access .

Maps like these help food banks determine where they can help the most people.

Click here to view the USDA's "Food Desert" map.

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