By Mandy Feder–
Remember Soylent Green?
The old man grabs a spoon, looks around to be sure nobody is watching so he can savor some homemade preserves — real food.
The sun relentlessly hammers down on barren, dry dust and people clamor for the soylent chips, the tasteless nutrients.
When I read about food deserts, that is what I imagine.
A food desert is any area in the industrialized world where healthy, affordable food is difficult to find. It is prevalent in rural and urban areas and is most commonly found in fairly impoverished areas.
Lake County could have easily fallen into the sand trap.
Instead it became an oasis.
The Early Show on CBS showcased Lake County”s success for the world to see and to learn from.
Susan Jen of the Health Leadership Network connected farmers with lunch ladies. Colleen Rentsch and Michelle Malm were the catalysts to make sure that Lake County youth had good, healthy meals at school.
A food desert is any census area where at least 20 percent of inhabitants are below the poverty line and 33 percent live more than a mile from a supermarket. That is true of Lake County, however, children now have access to healthy food at school and are able to take fruit and vegetables home for free. Now their families are healthier, too.
When people have little or no access to healthy fresh food, a truckload of health problems follow.
The USDA links food deserts to a growing weight problem that has seen childhood obesity in America triple since 1980. The annual cost of treating obesity is currently at $150 billion.
Lake County”s trendsetters not only accomplished the task of caring for the health of the students, but also did so for a cost far less than when the food lacked needed nutrients.
Farmers benefit because they are able to sell closer to home.
And the idea grew …
The Lake County Hill Road Correctional facility purchases local fresh fruit and vegetables for the inmates.
The Health Leadership Network brought us the Local Food Forum and initiated the website www.LakeCountyGrown.com. Check it out.
Three hardworking, sensible, community-oriented women changed the health of the county and have set an example for others all over the United States.
Hats off to all who made this happen here.
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee managing editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32.
