Fresh Ideas Blog

From the Digest

Detroit: The Business of Urban Agriculture

Alethia Carr reports from the Business of Urban Agriculture Summit in Detroit and some controversial proposals for the city's vacant land.
By Alethia Carr

Meet the Fellows

Andy Fisher

Andy Fisher, the Oregon-based director of the Community Food Security Coalition, focuses on bridging food security with federal programs.

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Good Food for All

Providing everyone with access to healthy, nutritious and culturally appropriate foods isn’t just a good idea — it’s the cornerstone for healthy people, local economic development and reduced health care costs. Unfortunately, too many people around the country, in both urban and rural settings, have inadequate access to these foods. This limited access can create a substantial barrier to healthy eating and contributes to the disproportionately high rates of chronic disease in many low-income communities. Fortunately, communities around the country are developing innovative ways of addressing these issues, from creating farmers markets to attracting grocery stores to other novel food distribution initiatives. We are working to increase awareness of this important issue, engage community leaders in conversations about food access, and pointing out opportunities to improve local, state and federal policies.

Workgroup fellows

Alethia Carr Alethia Carr, Maternal and Child Health Director at the Michigan Department of Community Health, is working to address food deserts in cities like Detroit.

Andy Fisher Andy Fisher, the Oregon-based director of the Community Food Security Coalition, focuses on bridging food security with federal programs.

Articles by this workgroup

Fresh Food, Just Around the Corner

The Local Foods Program at IATP is working with the MN Department of Health, distributors and corner store owners to increase access to fresh produce at corner stores across the state.
By Ben Lilliston

Applying for WIC and SNAP: Michigan’s Example

The nuts and bolts of applying for food assistance programs in Michigan.
By Alethia Carr

Hunger and Obesity: Two Sides of the Same Coin

A recent study revealed that food hardship affects nearly one in five families nationally. Hunger, food insecurity, and food hardship are gradations of the same phenomenon in which individuals who cannot afford sufficient nutritious food, fill up on energy-dense but nutrient-poor food, and often suffer from cycles of plenty/want/plenty based on the timing of their income streams. Researchers confirm that these patterns often lead to higher incidences of overweight and obesity.
By Andy Fisher