Dessert in the Desert: Central Toledo’s problem accessing healthy food

I’m getting answers.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Food desert: a term you may or may not be familiar with. A term many in our community live in. They’re defined as areas where access to healthy, affordable food options is nonexistent — and central Toledo is home to a large one.

For example, surrounding the Swayne Field Shopping Center on Monroe Street are carry-outs, a drug store, and a McDonald’s. And the grocery that did at one point exist — is shuttered.

“You are what you eat, so if you’re not eating those healthy foods, your health starts to decline, the health of the community starts to decline, and it really just becomes a snowball effect.”

This is a problem that’s been realized by Toledo City Council, which is why Councilwoman Theresa Gadus, who represents east Toledo and parts of central Toledo, tells me council recently passed legislation incentivizing the construction of a grocery in the downtown-Junction area, another part of town afflicted with this very challenge.

“We’re partnered with LMH [Lucas Metropolitan Housing] on that. So, LMH has been a great partner. Of course, the Lucas County Health Department has been a great partner. We are working with them to build a healthy food co-op program,” Councilwoman Gadus said.

And she tells me next steps include meetings with other community partners, including those carry-outs.

“In this program, we’re hoping to provide refrigeration units and other stuff, including wholesale price on vegetables, and working with them to make sure that this is successful.”

Gadus added that she and fellow councilmember Nick Komives have put in this year’s budget the position of healthy food policy manager, who will oversee these efforts and other responsibilities to be determined. She says this is part of correcting years of disinvestment, a central reason behind the lack of groceries in this part of the community.