The purveyors of late-night hot dogs, tins of Zyn, and countless varieties of gummy worms generally don't sell a lot of "real food." But in America's food deserts, convenience stores are more than just places to pick up a snack-they're grocery stores. The USDA estimates that tens of millions of Americans live in low-income areas with limited access to grocery stores.
Auset was fresh out of college and living on a vegan diet. Her neighborhood largely lacked healthful options, and she wound up commuting two hours round-trip by bus to buy nutritious food that fit her budget as a recipient of federal food aid. "You spend all of this time on the bus, get somewhere that has healthy food and then you're having to debate with yourself: Can I afford this apple?" Auset recalled.
"The North Shore of Staten Island is a food desert. There are not a lot of places that have fresh, local vegetables and produce and people were looking for something healthier," said Ilene Pappert, director of the Goodhue Community Center in New Brighton where the distributions take place. "It has become such a community. People are sharing recipes, people are excited about trying new things. And they feel like they were getting their money's worth."
