Turning urban deserts into urban oases

Why is it that in some communities consumers can buy french fries, but not fresh potatoes? Or catsup, but not fresh tomatoes? In my neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, there are very few places where you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.

I know I’m not alone. Nationwide, urban dwellers face a choice that people living in a highly advanced, technologically savvy country should not have to make: to travel long distances to buy fresh fruits and vegetables or to shop at expensive corner stores that primarily sell high-fat, high-sugar convenience food.

This is why Congress must continue its work to urbanize the farm bill. And with the May 21 passage and veto override of H.R. 2419, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the farm bill), we are doing just that. The proposals included in this bill represent a sizable and important step forward at a time when the Bush administration has been largely absent in taking the lead to strengthen our nation’s food supply.

This crisis led to a term I worked to codify in the farm bill called “food deserts,” which aptly describes a community, particularly underserved, low-income and urban, where families cannot access fresh, healthy foods but, rather, are inundated by fast-food and foods devoid of any nutritional value. The consequences are deadly: diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other lifestyle maladies.

Several of my initiatives on urban agriculture —ranging from studying communities, now referred to as “food deserts,” to funding for the construction of grocery stores in urban areas — made it into the 2008 farm bill.

I and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus worked with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) to authorize a one-year, USDA-led study of the incidence of “food deserts.” This study will provide much-needed information regarding the impact of agriculture and food in urban areas, and push our nation to get serious about the staggering epidemic of childhood obesity and the threat that poor diets represent to our nation’s future.

The farm bill highlights a series of agricultural measures that expand opportunities to domestic and international communities in desperate need of food assistance. It includes $10.4 billion in programs that create opportunities for urban agriculture, increases funding for nutrition, and provide aid to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, among other reforms.

Furthermore, the Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Program (HUFED) will be a grant program run by the Department of Agriculture. Funding will be allotted for communities to create better links between farmers, farms and grocery stores. There is money for technical assistance, rehab and construction. This HUFED will create a $3 million center to provide outreach, technical assistance and feasibility study grants to support the development of enterprises that will distribute and market healthy and locally produced foods to underserved urban, rural and tribal communities.

By extending and strengthening provisions that would soon expire, the bill offers a measure of hope to investors to continue the economic growth and development our nation has helped to build throughout the African Diaspora, while creating new opportunities for American workers, farmers and businesses.

We’ve done our part; now, the appropriators must provide the funding to make our communities whole and healthy.

Overall, the 2008 farm bill contains significant gains that promote access, expansion, and education on nutrition. It is important to support farmers and our agriculture industry while increasing healthy food options in our poorest communities, creating incentives for producers and retailers to provide foods that provide healthy food options, and increasing consumer education about healthy alternatives at school and at home.

It’s time for our nation to unite in helping to turn the urban food deserts across the country into oases so that every American will have the ability to eat hearty, healthy and happily.

Rush is chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.