Community Foods Market (now open) provides West Oakland with much needed access to fresh and healthy food options. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had defined this neighborhood as a food desert, due to the difficulty in buying affordable or good-quality fresh food.
Brahm Ahmadi, the CEO of the Community Foods Market, stated “West Oakland collectively spends tens of millions of dollars on groceries, the majority of that leaving this neighborhood because there’s nowhere to shop.”
The USDA estimates that in California alone, more than one million people live in a food desert. The inhabitants of food deserts are predominantly low-income and ethnic minorities. This demographic suffers the most from poor diets resulting in obesity and the adverse health issues associated with it and are more likely to live in food deserts. Hopefully more healthy options for food deserts will be considered so that people have better food options.
If you happen to be in West Oakland and want to check out the Community Foods Market, you can check it out at 3105 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94608.
