It is unquestionable that we are in a food crisis. Nearly everyone can recognize a problem in the food system, whether local or global. We live in a time where local, organic food costs more than conventional and is harder to get access to as well. This is especially the case if you are a poverty stricken person of color living in a “food desert”. Organic food becomes “rich people food” that seems like an unobtainable and now even an undesirable product. The messages of “buy local” and “support non-GMO” are from people who are privileged that live in communities who have great access to food. There are indeed good alternative food movements that are happening, but these movements seem to be located in places with people who can afford them easily, and also have a variety of choices to choose from when it comes to their food. Therefore, these markets tend to give the wealthy even more choices when it comes to food. I do believe that these movements have the best of intentions, but have a poor understanding on how to make them successful in food deserts. Farmer’s markets are undeniably beneficial, but this is only if you already have choice. This is demonstrated in Guthman’s article Bringing Good Food to Others: investigating the subject of alternative food practice.
People that are used to eating and preparing convenience foods will have many difficulties switching to food that must be prepared without being educated on how to cook and store them. Time along with money is, and always will be a huge issue in influencing people’s food choices. Products sold at farmer’s markets are not time efficient, and they usually cost more than comparable conventional items. People are often very unfamiliar with the products at local produce markets, and that repels them from spending their money there, which is understandable because it becomes risky. “Who are they to tell me how to eat? I don’t want that stuff. It’s not food. I need to feed my family”(Guthman p.440) are remarks made by community members expressing their feelings about the farmers market choices. Privileged people are clearly failing to recognize the progress of marginalized communities in food deserts. It is not simply a matter of poor choices, it is an issue of food justice due to inadequate access and education. There are also goals in these programs that are intending to educate people of color on how to farm, although they have no land to do it in the first place. Even further, white farmers nearby with adequate land are having trouble making a living due to poor commodity prices(Guthman p.435). There is no reason to believe that people that are so far disconnected both financially and culturally are going to listen to others when they tell them things they should do, such as farming and buying at local markets with higher prices. It is simply out of the realm of their current situation. As privileged people we are many steps ahead of the communities we are trying to repair.
I suggest that we work to give people in food deserts access to more food before trying to implement farmer’s markets there. The root of the problem must be addressed. Access to basic grocery stores that have a variety of choices to adequately feed their families. This can only be done by urging communities to voice their opinions and work to get better choices in their communities. There is a strong passion that people have for organic food, which I believe can be obtained by these communities as well, but there needs to be changes made at the basic level. Implementing nutrition education into schools so that children know what their bodies need to function optimally. Taking these first steps I believe will allow us to narrow the gap between communities and get us closer to reaching the goal of supporting local, organic food for all.