Legislative leaders agree to summer study of Moed proposal to eliminate food deserts

INDIANAPOLIS – Thanks to the efforts of State Rep. Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis), legislative leaders today agreed to have lawmakers spend this interim studying ways to address the problems caused by food deserts across Indiana.

The study, to be conducted by the Interim Study Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, would look at the feasibility of creating a Local Food and Farm Council within the Indiana Department of Agriculture to provide a forum for sharing policies across the state targeted at growing more food locally and eliminating food deserts, which are defined as regions with restricted access to healthy and affordable foods.

“A food desert is a part of any community where people don’t have easy access to such things as fresh fruit, produce and meats, fish and poultry,” Moed said. “Travel through many urban areas, and you will not find grocery stores that can provide these staples. Since I became interested in this concept, I have found that similar problems exist in many rural areas of Indiana as well.”

During the 2015 legislative session, Moed filed a measure (House Bill 1248) to establish the Council. While the proposal received strong support from a diverse group of organizations – including IU Health, Indiana Farm Bureau, the American Heart Association, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Purdue University, Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, the Hoosier Farmers Market Alliance, and the Indianapolis Food Co-op – and passed the House by a resounding 89-5 margin, it stalled in the Indiana Senate.

“Deciding what to do about food deserts can help us find solutions to two major problems,” Moed noted.

“By providing healthy and affordable alternatives to convenience stores and fast food restaurants, we can take major strides toward reducing the prevalence of obesity in our state (Indiana ranks 8th in the nation in levels of obesity among its population),” he said. “Second of all, this is a perfect opportunity to provide a ready market for Indiana’s farming community. We can strengthen a crucial sector of Indiana’s economy.

“I appreciate the willingness of our leaders to see the value that can come from this study and I look forward to spending this interim collecting information that can result in improving the health and well-being of literally hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers,” Moed concluded.