The local food movement could not come at a better time. A new report from the Brookings Institute and The Reinvestment Fund shows that a disproportionately high number of Clevelanders live in "food deserts," communities that do not offer the benefits of a readily accessible supermarket.

Nationwide, an estimated 19 million Americans live in low-access areas, which for purposes of this study were determined not just by distance to the nearest supermarket, but population density and rates of car ownership, according to the report, "Getting to Market." In the 10 urban areas on which the researchers focused, about 1.7 million residents were found to live in areas where it's much more difficult to enjoy the benefits of supermarkets, like lower prices and greater produce selection.

Los Angeles, the largest metro region in the study, led the pack -- until the researchers controlled for size. " In that count Cleveland stands out, with more than 1 in 9 residents in the region living in low-access areas."

Cleveland also showed exceptionally high rates of "leakage," which refers to money leaving a community because its members are forced to shop elsewhere. Leakage in Cleveland was tallied at $508 million annually, second only to Los Angeles.

The Reinvestment Fund, which helped launch a Pennsylvania initiative to spur supermarket development in underserved areas that's since been replicated elsewhere, has posted all of its data online, to assist local policymakers and activists in their planning.

Source: Brookings Institute
Writer: Frank W. Lewis