food desert

noun

: an area where little fresh produce is available for sale
Despite the common perception of food deserts as city neighborhoods where fast food chains and convenience stores dominate, many of Kansas' food deserts are in rural areas. In some, residents have to drive 20 miles or farther to find a source of healthful food.Megan Hart

Examples of food desert in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
People would drive trucks of vegetables in, because Harlem was a food desert. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2024 South Dallas is a food desert, and Big Tex Urban Farms donates thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables to the surrounding community to address the issue. Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 10 Oct. 2024 The convenience store will offer fresh food options, including EBT-eligible foods, helping to relieve pressure in one of the city’s largest food deserts. Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2024 This initiative also connects to broader efforts across the South to combat food deserts and increase access to healthy, local foods. Marybeth Gasman, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for food desert 

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of food desert was in 1988

Dictionary Entries Near food desert

Cite this Entry

“Food desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20desert. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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