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Introduction
Word in Black is a collaboration of 10 of the nation’s leading Black publishers that frames the narrative and fosters solutions for racial inequities in America.
Attempting to Close the Food Security Gap
Since moving to the Bellevue neighborhood of Ward 8 three years ago, Jay Clark has become quite familiar with the lack of quality produce in his community grocery stores.
So much so that he often travels across the Anacostia River to shop for his food.
Clark, a lifelong D.C. resident hailing from Northeast, said it’s by design that the Giant stores located in Eastover in Oxon Hill, Maryland and along Alabama Avenue in Southeast carry what he, and several others, consider some of the worst produce in the D.C. area.
“They don’t give the people in Southeast good, quality foods. Simple as that,” said Clark, 41.
“The pineapples aren’t going to look like the pineapples they carry in the Connecticut Avenue location,” he continued. “They aren’t going to get the fresh peaches, the fresh bananas. Not the top of the line.”
Attempting to Close the Food Security Gap
Clark lives in a food desert, which is defined as a geographic area where residents lack access to grocery stores that are within convenient traveling distance.
A 2020 grocery store report by D.C. Hunger Solutions revealed that Wards 7 and 8, the District’s lowest-income wards, have significantly fewer full-service grocery stores than other parts of the city where residents have higher incomes.
In Ward 7, 26.6% of residents live below the poverty line while 34.2% of Ward 8 residents face a similar situation. These figures are twice that of wards west of the Anacostia River.
Supermarket tax exemptions that waive taxes and fees for grocery stores built in food deserts have been unsuccessful in bringing full-service grocery stores to Wards 7 and 8, according to D.C. Hunger Solutions.
In recent years, the Bowser administration has attempted to boost food access east of the Anacostia River. In June, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) commemorated the opening of the new headquarters for the Department of General Services on Minnesota Avenue in Northeast. That move counted as part of an east-of-the-river leasing strategy to attract grocers to Wards 7 and 8.
In March, the Nourish DC Collaborative provided more than a dozen non-white food businesses in Wards 5, 7 and 8 with grants, financing, and technical assistance. Additionally, the Office of Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) had nearly $11 million available via the Food Access Fund, which provides qualifying businesses with capital for the expansion of their operations to areas designated as food deserts.
The Neighborhood Prosperity Fund brought Good Food Market to South Capitol Street in Southeast during the latter part of 2021.
Even so, the number of grocery stores in Ward 8 has remained the same. Redistricting brought Navy Yard — a more racially heterogeneous, affluent neighborhood located west of the Anacostia River — into Ward 8. Not long after, Good Food Market closed under the pressure of inflation.
Today, Ward 8 residents living east of the Anacostia River only have access to the Giant on Alabama Avenue. In Ward 7, residents only have Safeway, also on Alabama Avenue, along with Lidl, which opened in Skyland Town Center last year.
This summer, the threat of the Ward 8 Giant’s closure, once again, sparked dialogue about food insecurity in the District’s low-income communities. The major grocer cited revenue loss from consumer theft as a major factor in discussions about whether to cease operations.
It has since reversed course, choosing instead to increase security and stop selling name-brand items.
Had Giant followed through with shutting down its Ward 8 location, the loss of that grocer would’ve followed
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. No Poverty
- Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
- Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
2. Zero Hunger
- Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
- Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
3. Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
- Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
- Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
- Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
- Indicator 12.3.1: Number of countries adopting and implementing national policies, strategies and action plans to prevent food waste and loss.
Analysis
1. The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are:
– SDG 1: No Poverty
– SDG 2: Zero Hunger
– SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
– SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
– SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
– SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
2. Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content are:
– Target 1.2: Reduce the proportion of people living in poverty.
– Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe and nutritious food.
– Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.
– Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work.
– Target 11.1: Ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing.
– Target 12.3: Halve per capita global food waste.
3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:
– Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of people living in poverty.
– Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of food insecurity.
– Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to non-communicable diseases.
– Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of employees.
– Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in inadequate housing.
– Indicator 12.3.1: Number of countries implementing policies to prevent food waste.
4. Table presenting the findings:
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|——|———|————|
| 1. No Poverty | Target 1.2: Reduce the proportion of people living in poverty. | Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of people living in poverty. |
| 2. Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe and nutritious food. | Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of food insecurity. |
| 3. Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. | Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to non-communicable diseases. |
| 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work. | Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of employees. |
| 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.1: Ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing. | Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in inadequate housing. |
| 12. Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.3: Halve per capita global food waste. | Indicator 12.3.1: Number of countries implementing policies to prevent food waste. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: washingtoninformer.com
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