Food Justice
What is food insecurity?
According to the USDA, food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
What are the leading causes?
Poverty
Unemployment
Chronic illness
Lack of affordable housing
Racism and Discrimination
Food Insecurity in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is ranked number 16 in Ohio for cities with the highest amounts of food insecurity
Food insecurity affects 1 in 8 people in the Miami Valley
Among children, food insecurity affects 1 in 6 people
For military families, food insecurity affects 1 in 4 families
75,000 tons (15%) of waste produced in Dayton each year is food
1 ton = 2000 pounds
Dayton Grocery Stores: Distribution by Population by Race
East Side of Dayton
African American-3,546
Caucasian-47,483
Total: 47,483
Major Groceries: 3
West Side of Dayton
African American-55,497
Caucasian-13,283
Total: 68,780
Major Groceries: 1
Dayton Grocery Stores: Price Difference per Location (11/16/2023)
Kroger Wayne Ave.
Annual Income Dayton, OH
$37,536
Kroger Centerville
Annual Income Centerville, OH
$76,565
Improving Food Access in Dayton
Our Goal: Lower the rate of food insecurity and increase access to healthier foods. Implementing more grocery stores and options for fresher food will benefit the health of the Dayton Community, and decrease the amount of food insecurity in the areas where there it is needed.
Benefits of Community Gardens/Greenhouses
Promotes healthy lifestyles: more access to fresh fruits and veggies will have more opportunities to be healthier. It encourages regular exercise (by gardening).
Composting those foods in stores that have gone bad: tree trimmings, leaves, and old fruit and veggies can be turned into fertilizer.
Access to more fresh foods than processed foods (community garden = easier access to fresh foods).
Saving money on produce.
With gardens, studies have found how there has been an improvement in air quality: removing air pollution, absorbing rainwater so less runoff in the streets→ fewer pollutants are washed into rivers, streams, and lakes.
Solve food deserts.
With greenhouses, there are longer growing seasons, fewer pest problems, and weather protection.
Community Gardens
Community gardens provide discounted produce to needy Dayton residents
Some gardens are non-profit like the Zion Community Garden, which provides free and fresh produce to Dayton's Foodbank
Other gardens like Dayton Urban Grown, provide produce at discounted prices compared to local grocers
Kale: $3.00 for 12oz (Community), $3.19 for 6oz (Aldi), $3.49 for 6oz (Kroger)
Arugula: $3.00-$4.00 for 7oz (Community), $3.19 for 5oz (Aldi), $3.49 for 5oz(Kroger)
Spinach: $4.00 for 7oz (Community), $3.19 for 5oz (Aldi), $3.49 for 5oz (Kroger)
Majority of community gardens offer free produce in the Dayton area
Reducing Food Waste and Offering Salvage Options
Salvage Options
Salvage Grocery Stores
Grocery stores that offer close to expiring foods, deformed produce, all for a discounted price
Ugly Food Movement
Grab n Go Bags
Bags will be offered with a variety of food for free or discounted. They would include meats, produce, non perishables, etc
Grocery Stores, Community Centers
Food Waste
119 billion pounds (40%) of food is wasted each year in the USA
130 billion meals
More than 80% of Americans discard foods due to lack of understanding imperfections, expiration Label, deformities
Restaurants, grocery stores, food service are the biggest culprits
Working to Feed Everyone Today Dayton, Ohio
Hall Hunger Initiative
Works with Community Partners to bring affordable and healthy food to the Dayton Area
Goal is to change the root causes of hunger.
Racial Wealth Gap Simulator
Creates an Understanding of why federal policies in the United States have created a wealth disparity and inequal access to food.
Can link people to resources that are already in Dayton.
Access to Excess
Dayton food rescue operation that recovers and redistributes wholesome vegetables and other surplus foods.
Wants to develop an efficient and sustainable donation system for surplus food in Montgomery and Greene County.
Distributions are always free, unregulated, and open to anyone with no questions asked.
Other Ohio Groups Taking Action
Forrest City Weingart (but it shut down)
Ugly Food Movement
Sold at 40% regular cost
Distributes boxes to community centers
References
Access to Excess. AccessToExcess. (n.d.). https://www.accesstoexcessfood.org/help-out
Benefits of Community Gardening. Los Angeles Community Garden Council. (2021, February 16). https://lagardencouncil.org/benefits-of-community-gardening/
Community gardening. Five Rivers MetroParks. (2023, January 27). https://www.metroparks.org/community-gardening/
About | Hall Hunger Initiative
“Racial Wealth Gap Simulation.” Hall Hunger Initiative, www.hallhungerinitiative.org/racial-wealth-gap-simulation. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Racial Wealth Gap Simulation | Hall Hunger Initiati (hallhungerinitiative.org)
Homes, O. (2023, February 8). 5 community gardens in Dayton, Ohio you can participate in. Oberer Homes. https://www.obererhomes.com/community-gardens-dayton-ohio/
Twining, D. (2023, January 31). 7 advantages to Greenhouse Gardening. Roost & Root. https://roostandroot.com/blog/7-advantages-to-greenhouse-gardening/
Arámbula, Dr. Víctor Manuel Villalobos, et al. “Perfectly Imperfect – the First Produce Distributor in the U.S. to Start Ugly Produce Delivery.” Food Tank, 22 Nov. 2016, foodtank.com/news/2016/06/perfectly-imperfect-the-first-produce-distributor-in-the-u-s-to-start-ugly/. Accessed 04 Dec. 2023.
“Food Waste and Food Rescue.” Feeding America, www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/reduce-food-waste#:~:text=How%20much%20food%20waste%20is,food%20in%20America%20is%20wasted. Accessed 03 Dec. 2023.
“Global Caritas Survey Points to Leading Causes of Hunger.” Business Wire, 19 May 2015, www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150519006950/en/Global-Caritas-Survey-Points-to-Leading-Causes-of-Hunger. Accessed 03 Dec. 2023.
“Jonathan Friedland: Reducing Food Waste at Dining Halls Key to Greater Sustainability.” Daily Bruin, new.dailybruin.com/post/jonathan-friedland-reducing-food-waste-at-dining-halls-key-to-greater-sustainability. Accessed 03 Dec. 2023.
Miller, Elizabeth. “Hunger Remains a Constant Concern for Kids and Adults across Oregon.” Opb, OPB, 9 July 2022, www.opb.org/article/2022/07/09/hunger-remains-a-constant-concern-for-kids-and-adults-across-oregon/.
“The Ugly Food Movement and Its Impact on Food Banks.” Blessings of Hope, 11 Oct. 2023, blessingsofhope.com/how-the-changing-imperfect-food-movement-is-impacting-food-banks/.
Warshawsky, Daniel N. “The Limits of Food Waste Governance in Cities: Case Study of Dayton, Ohio.” Geographical Review, vol. 111, no. 3, 2020, pp. 352–372, doi:10.1080/00167428.2020.1776124.
“What Is Food Insecurity.” USDA ERS - Measurement, www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/measurement/#:~:text=Food%20insecurity%20is%20the%20limited,foods%20in%20socially%20acceptable%20ways. Accessed 03 Dec. 2023.
“What Is Food Insecurity?” Feeding America, www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity#:~:text=Poverty%2C%20unemployment%20and%20low%20wages,nationally%20to%20expand%20economic%20opportunities. Accessed 03 Dec. 2023.
“Dayton Urban Grown.” Home, daytonurbangrown.square.site/s/order#2. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
“Garden Ministry.” Zion Lutheran Church, 23 Mar. 2023, zionelc.org/zion-community-garden/.
Borek, Jenilee. “Dayton Organizations Combat Food Insecurity with Targeted Initiatives and Call for Volunteers.” WKEF, dayton247now.com/news/local/local-organizations-are-helping-families-who-experience-food-insecurity-and-theyre-looking-for-volunteers. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.