What Are Food Deserts? USDA Definition and Solutions

American Farm Initiative | Food Access | 7 min read

Over 23 million Americans live in food deserts — places where access to affordable, nutritious food is severely limited. Understanding the problem is the first step toward solving it.

The USDA Definition of a Food Desert

According to the USDA, a food desert is an area where residents live more than 1 mile from a supermarket (urban) or more than 10 miles from a supermarket (rural), AND where a significant percentage of the population has low income. These areas are formally called “low-income, low-access” (LILA) food areas.

Who Is Most Affected?

Food deserts disproportionately affect Black and Latino communities, rural Appalachian regions, and high-poverty urban neighborhoods. Research consistently shows these communities have higher rates of diet-related illness including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

Why Do Food Deserts Exist?

The root causes are structural: grocery chains have systematically disinvested from low-income neighborhoods, regional food networks have collapsed, and small local food producers lack access to market channels. The result is a double injustice — communities most in need of fresh food are least able to access it.

How Microfarms Address Food Deserts

AFI deploys microfarms directly into food desert communities, creating local food production that doesn’t depend on corporate grocery supply chains. By placing production within the community — and connecting it to local buyers including food banks and schools — AFI creates sustainable food access that communities own and control.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many food deserts are there in the US?

The USDA estimates approximately 6,500 food deserts exist across the United States, affecting roughly 23.5 million people.

What is the difference between a food desert and a food swamp?

A food swamp has abundant fast food and processed food options but limited access to fresh, whole foods. Food deserts lack both.