Food Deserts

As part of his $49.6 billion budget proposal, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker earmarked $20 million toward helping independent grocers open in food deserts across the state.

An urban farming organization received $350,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to support urban farmers in north St. Louis County and address accessibility to healthy food.

The report paints a grim picture of accelerating consolidation over the past three decades. Yet some communities and local grocery stores are finding ways to thrive.

Artinces Smith wants to coach people interested in a vegan lifestyle.

North St. Louis County residents lack options for high quality, affordable produce. A Red Circle’s founder and executive director says a community-owned grocery store will help meet the need.

New data from the USDA shows rural areas are losing their grocery, specialty food and convenience stores and gaining some dollar stores and superstores.

Last year, COVID-19 pushed the persistent problem of healthy food access toward crisis levels. The number of meals provided by The St. Louis Area Foodbank, which serves 14 Missouri counties and 12 in Illinois, increased by 53% to nearly 53 million between June 2019 and June 2021, data from the nonprofit show.

A growing community of Black farmers in St. Louis is working to feed residents in areas with few traditional grocery stores, but for some, the costs of getting started are a major hurdle. A small group of growers and food justice advocates is trying to ease the burden on these aspiring farmers by offering a lending “tool bank” in north city.

Volunteers from St. Louis have harvested thousands of pounds of vegetables from Indiana farms this summer, distributing it to local food pantries and soup kitchens.

In January, St. Louis’ regional transit agency considered taking on operation of the embattled Loop Trolley — and ultimately declined to do so. At this…