Submitted by Mike, Feb 8, 2008 11:11

Mr. Wolf, the reason fresh produce is in lower demand in poorer neighborhoods is because those with limited income must be selective about getting enough "bang for their buck" in terms of calories per dollar spent. In other words, how can you satiate your hunger the most while spending the least? The fact of the matter is that unhealthy food (junk food) which is high in calories is less expensive than healthy food such as produce which is also lower in calories. Thus, by the "calories for the buck" formula, junk food takes priority over fresh produce.

That would be fine if that were the end of the story - your point would stand that it's simple supply and demand. However, there is a major ANTI-MARKET factor at work here that makes it not as simple as you describe. That is the existence of enormous government subsidies for wheat, corn, and soy. What's the connection? The connection is that our federal government's subsidization for wheat, corn and soy artificially lowers the prices of junk food on our nation's shelves (and, for that matter, its subsidization of water and fossil fuels for industrial meat agriculture artificially lowers the price of fast food garbage). This results in cheap wheat and corn, cheap corn oil and corn syrup, and cheap soybean oil. Subsidies at that scale do not exist for other forms of fresh, healthy produce. Thus, while fresh produce is left to compete
on the "open market", junk food is essentially subsidized by our federal government's quasi-socialist agricultural policy.

My point is that the cards are already stacked against healthy food choices for poor neighborhoods - it's not as simple as these neighborhoods "magically" preferring junk food.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.