Mission

WINSTON-SALEM, NC, THE PRINCIPAL CITY IN FORSYTH COUNTY, HAS MULTIPLE "FOOD DESERTS,- OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NO FULL-SERVICE GROCERY STORES, OFFERING PRODUCE AND OTHER FRESH FOODS, WITHIN A RADIUS OF ONE MILE. THESE "FOOD DESERTS" ARE LOCATED IN AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS AT OR NEAR THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. ACCORDING TO A 2017 STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY OF WINSTON-SALEM, AN ESTIMATED 17% OF FORSYTH COUNTY RESIDENTS EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY IN 2014. AN ESTIMATED 38% OF POOR FORSYTH COUNTY RESIDENTS LIVE IN A "FOOD DESERT," IN A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF OVER 360,000. RESIDENTS OF "FOOD DESERTS" ARE NORMALLY AFFLICTED BY MULTIPLE DISADVANTAGES. THEY TYPICALLY LACK RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, WHICH DIMINISHES THEIR OPPORTUNITY FOR LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT AND ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS. THEIR PREDICAMENT RESULTS IN THEIR PERCEPTION OF HAVING NO ALTERNATIVES EXCEPT TO UTILIZE LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORES AND OTHER FAST FOOD OPTIONS. THEREFORE, T