Blog Action Day: A Solution for Food Deserts
It’s commonly known that food can affect our emotional state. I’m sure we all can think back to a moment, perhaps in our childhood… perhaps just yesterday, when we took the first bite of some delectable treat and couldn’t help but smile as the flavors swirled around our tongue. If you happened to be in the company of a friend, you probably even passed some over while exclaiming “you HAVE to try this,” although you secretly wanted them to take as small a bite as possible.
So, in thinking about Blog Action Day 2011′s topic of food, I thought it aligned quite well with the “radiate joy” part of this blog’s mission. Of course, it’s also commonly known that our world faces an uncertain future when it comes to food security. Just within the past week, I’ve heard a couple of stories in main stream news regarding changes we can and should make now to ensure that in the future we can support the food needs of 9 to 10 billion people on our planet. The question remains: what are the design solutions that will empower people around food so they can continue to radiate in joyous situations like the one above?
Perhaps the most important thing we can do is ensure that everyone has access to healthy, affordable food. In our country alone, it is estimated that roughly 13.5 million people live in a “food desert,” which means that they do not have easy access to healthy, affordable food in biking or walking distance from their home. for more information about the problems of food desserts, check out the Fast Com. Design Blog post: The “Food Deserts” That Keep Americans Fat.
One step towards addressing the needs of those living in food deserts is currently in pilot testing by a team of Bainbridge Graduate Institute students here in Seattle and is so far receiving a lot of praise: Stockbox Grocers!
(c) Patrick Robinson / West Seattle Herald
Stockbox Grocers responds to this need with a miniature grocery that’s tucked inside a reclaimed shipping container and placed into the parking lot of an existing business. We innovate on the espresso stand model to build stores throughout urban communities, and provide fresh produce and grocery staples to those who currently without access to good food, where they live.
I am hopeful that this innovation will start to make a sizable dent in our food desert problem here at home and can’t wait until they begin to scale. If you’re interested in learning more about Stockbox, just drop by for a visit to the their Delridge store if you’re in the Seattle area. Otherwise, follow them on Facebook and Twitter
Related links:
- Stockbox Grocers to debut first mini-mini-market tomorrow (westseattleblog.com)
- stockbox grocers: shipping container grocery store (designboom.com)
- Stockbox Grocers (foodforfuture.wordpress.com)
It’s hard to believe that many in our country “do not have easy access to healthy, affordable food in biking or walking distance from their home”. We need to educate more about fresh foods!
Great post guys. I think you are right. Food always one part of our regular lifes. So we should know that which one is healthy and which one causes problem.
Thanks for the Post Guys ! Great Work. By the way I think Food plays a major role in our day to day lives.