Healthy Living

Everyone should have access to nutritious and healthy food. It is about ensuring that enough food and the right foods are accessible and affordable to all Americans.

Today, poor diet is most often associated with excess food as less Americans eat enough of the right foods. In fact, more than 80% of Americans’ diets are low in vegetables, fruits and dairy. The most popular vegetables amongst Americans – potatoes and tomatoes – are mostly eaten as french fries or pizza sauce, respectively.

On the other hand, poor diet was once associated with undernutrition. However, for many households across the country, it is still about not having access to enough food. According to a USDA survey from 2019, 4.1% of American households reported having been forced to skip meals due to poor affordability, and more than 1 in six Americans live in food deserts, i.e. areas where a large proportion of the population do not have access to a vehicle and live far from the nearest supermarket.

These numbers point to the importance of creating strong strong local food systems which will result in increased availability and accessibility of fresh and nutritious produce to everyone in our community. Locally produced food contributes to the creation of a vibrant food culture that simultaneously encourages healthy food choices while decreasing our carbon footprint and environmental impact.

Eating locally grown produce benefits the climate, the community, and your health. To this end, programs that on the one hand broadens foods access such as support public-private food partnerships, food assistance programs, and tiered pricing on essential supplies should be endorsed as well as initiatives that encourage healthier food choices such as organic and specialty crops subsidies and improved food hub regulations.

You can read more about how PIF deliver on the ambition to make fresh and healthy produce available for everyone here (SNAP) and here (food access pilot) or learn more about increasing healthy food accessibility and affordability!