99% Invisible Food Deserts
94 snips
Jul 8, 2025 
Jason DeLeon, a producer, dives into the historical roots of food deserts, revealing how policy shifts created these areas of scarcity. Stacey Mitchell, a food researcher, discusses how understanding food deserts often misses deeper systemic issues. They explore the legacy of A&P's dominance and the impacts of the Robinson-Patman Act on grocery retail. The conversation also highlights the struggles of local communities, like the New Beginnings kitchen in Woonsocket, that fight against food insecurity in an increasingly challenging landscape.
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Jean's Woonsocket Grocery Story
- Jean Michon grew up in Woonsocket in the 1970s when the city had many grocery options and community spots.
- Over time, stores closed and disappeared, turning the city into a food desert with only one grocery store left.
Food Deserts Are Recent and Designed
- Food deserts did not exist before the late 1980s despite longstanding poverty.
- The common belief that poor communities cannot support supermarkets is incorrect; something else caused food deserts to emerge.
A&P's Grocery Revolution
- A&P revolutionized grocery shopping by eliminating deliveries and credit purchases, instead offering low prices through vertical integration.
- Their growth squeezed small stores and altered neighborhood dynamics across America.
