Advocates calling for improved access to healthy food options for Chatham County residents

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) – Community advocates are calling on local policy makers to improve healthy food access.

The Savannah-Chatham Food Policy Council is set to address county commissioners on Friday.

According to a 2021 study, just under half of Chatham County residents live more than a mile from the closest grocery store. That’s led the Food Policy Council to increase efforts to reduce barriers that members say make it hard to access healthy food.

Armand Turner, with Healthy Savannah, and the Food Policy Council say members are calling on local leaders to support ordinances that would incentivize more grocery stores to open in the area.

The group is asking for more regulation that would lead to healthier options at local schools, corner stores and catered public events.

Turner says a lack of healthy food access can disproportionately hurt some communities as the group looks to remove certain barriers for nutritious options.

“We’re talking about low-wealth, African-American and Hispanic populations. We’re suffering from chronic diseases at a disproportionate rate. We’re talking about obesity, high blood pressure, even things like asthma. All these things are rampant within our communities and a lot of that goes back to what we eat. We need to eat more nutritious foods, and I think would want to eat more nutritious food, but they don’t have the capability to because where their zip code is,” Turner said.

In addition to meeting with county commissioners, the Food Policy Council also plans on speaking with Savannah’s city council next month.

Source: wtoc.com