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Amy Jo forwarded a Newsweek article by Karen Springen about “Junk Food Country”, the vast rural areas of the United States in which the convenience stores really are most convenient. These stores offer an abundance of junk food, but very little in the way of fruits and vegetables. One recent study showed that only 4% of convenience stores carry fruits and vegetables, and only 2% carry skim milk. Not only is healthy food less available, the article argues, but it’s more expensive.
I’m not sure if I agree with the author’s conclusions, however. She writes:
Forget plucking an apple from a tree, or an egg from under a chicken. “The stereotype is everyone in rural America lives on a farm, which is far from the truth,” says Jim Weill, president of the nonprofit Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).
[…]
“You are pretty much at the mercy of what’s in your neighborhood,” says Adam Drewnowski, director of the center for obesity research at the University of Washington.
Here in rural Oregon, convenience stores are more prevalent than supermarkets, too. And, like the South Carolina county that Newsweek article highlights, these stores do not carry fruits and vegetables. However, there are other choices available.
There are plenty of fresh produce stands scattered throughout the county. What’s more, local farmers often sell the food they’ve grown as a sort of home-based business. True, this produce isn’t available during the winter, but for a large part of the year, it’s easy to obtain fruits and vegetables.
Finally, it’s always possible for a family to grow their own food. Most people who live in an area so rural that a convenience store is their only option, is going to have enough space to grow their own produce.
[Newsweek: Junk food country]
Mac
7 responses so far ↓
1 Amy // Dec 27, 2007 at 10:02 am
No, it isn’t always possible for a family to grow thier own food. Because you live in a rural area does not mean you have the ability to farm or even the inclination to get your hands dirty.
2 Neil // Dec 27, 2007 at 10:39 am
@Amy: It’s a choice people make to move out into rural areas. They are not forced to live in that location. Therefore, to tell me it is not possible for them to build a small fruit/vegetable garden is simply not true.
I currently reside on a rather small lot in an addition. I have plenty of space that if I needed to I could plant a small garden. (I don’t have that need though.)
You also have to look at from the stores perspective. That is a business. Why would they sell goods that only a small percentage of people would purchase? If there were a large number of people that would be willing to purchase fruts/vegies than a grocery store would appear.
If you still aren’t able to find certain product. Form a team with some of your neighbors and each month or twice a month a neighbor would be assigned to head off to the nearest grocery store and purchase the items the other family needed. The whole, “Could you run to the store and get me _____. Here’s $10.” This way everyone takes a turn at making the drive and you only have to do it a few times a year. (Find enough neighbors and you can do it once a year.)
3 Blubba // Dec 27, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Neil,
I completely agree with you about being able to grow your own food. Even in urban areas, it’s possible via container gardening (although obviously limited to some degree by space and green thumbery).
One of the neat discoveries I’ve made for finding fresh produce is getting a CSA (community-supported agriculture) share at a local farm. Generally you get better produce at a decent price (and you get a gold star for supporting a local farm).
4 plonkee // Dec 28, 2007 at 3:24 am
Although I’m sure there are options for getting fresh produce, I don’t think that growing your own even vaguely resembles an easy one. Having enough land to do so, does not mean that you have the inclination, time or skill to do so.
5 TosaJen // Dec 28, 2007 at 10:33 am
Just another reason I need to live in a metro area.
I can go to my food coop, buy a CSA, garden a little, and go to the mega-grocery store.
Speaking of convenience stores, though — your point about produce not being available in rural areas because of the prevalence of convenience stores is just as true about blighted urban areas. If you live in a poor neighborhood, don’t have a car, and it’s winter, you’re not likely to take the bus for an hour+ each way to the local big grocery store to haul home a bunch of fresh produce.
6 Lazy Man and Health // Dec 28, 2007 at 2:01 pm
It seems like farmers’ markets would be more prevalent in rural areas. I’ve always lived in suburbs, with supermarkets that have plenty of produce. However, when I’ve been in Boston or NYC, it’s nearly impossible to buy a piece of fruit. Maybe you could go to a restaurant and try it, but just isn’t all that easy.
7 metroknow // Dec 29, 2007 at 1:40 pm
In a lot of ways in my opinion this is less about what’s available, or growing your own, and more about what we _want_ in our culture of abundance. We expect bananas year-round because we’re used to it. However, local fruits and vegetables are almost always available in most places in the US, if you’re willing to adjust your diet to what’s in season. Of course, its hugely easier said than done, but it is possible.
In New Zealand for example, items on the menu vary vastly depending on what time of year you go — if you go in Kumra (sp?) season (April-ish), you get what are similar to sweet potato fries everywhere. If you go in beet season, your side dish is a beet dish. Its a cultural norm; eating what is in season is what you do.
As convenience store alternatives, seeking out local farmers, joining food co-ops or fresh fruit and vegetable delivery services (like the ones available here in rural OR) are two ways to get around it. You may need to band together with a neighbor or two to split costs and not waste food if its delivered (its often more than you need).
On the skim milk, you shouldn’t be drinking that anyway
— drink the real stuff, just less of it. But that’s just me. 
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