Navigating L.A.’s food deserts: how to ensure equal access to healthy food & fresh produce

6p.m.--Doors Open/Farmers' Market
7p.m.--Program

Many of us take for granted access to fresh fruits and vegetables; we know we have choices—Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Ralphs, even our local farmers’ markets. But despite convenient access for many, “food deserts”—where the only options for miles may be a fast food restaurant or a corner market stocked with more processed food and alcohol than fresh produce and milk—remain a reality for many in South Los Angeles.

The health impacts are clear: disproportionately higher rates of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high blood pressure. KPCC’s Patt Morrison spends an hour with some of the people on the front lines of the food justice issue here in Los Angeles. We explore L.A.’s food deserts and the efforts to attract more grocery stores, farmers’ markets and community gardens into these underserved, and often forgotten, communities.

Join Patt Morrison on the evening of Thursday, July 15th for an evening of conversation as well as an example of a unique farmers’ market where you can shop, snack on fresh fruits and vegetables, enjoy a healthy cooking demonstration, and have a chance to win some fun and healthy prizes.

GUESTS INCLUDE:

Pompea Smith, CEO, Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA)

Elliott Petty, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)

Pete White & Becky Dennison, Los Angeles Community Action Network

Antronette Yancey, M.D., Co-Director, Center to Eliminate Health Disparities, UCLA School of Public Health

Nicole M. Gatto, MPH, PhD, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, UCLA Department of Epidemiology; Director, Milagro Allegro Community Garden

ADMISSION is FREE but please RSVP.

THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY

To be added to the waiting list, please contact us here with "WAITLIST for FOOD DESERTS" in the subject line. Please be sure to include the number of requested seats.

Photo credit: David McNew, Getty Images