BY BEN THOMPSON
Put in perspective
Lacking access Low-income, low-access areas—formerly labeled food deserts—are places where many people live far from a grocery store or supermarket, and likely lack vehicle access. Low-income, low-access population in census tract:
130
Hundreds of thousands of Central Texans regularly confront issues with food access and security, according to the national food system network Feeding America. At least 14% of Travis County’s population is food insecure, or lacking access to nutritious food. Tracy Ayrhart, vice president of strategic insights with the Central Texas Food Bank, said that may now be even higher as food insecurity increases nationally. The new plan will address that need at a broad level, she said, as the area remains at the mercy of larger factors. The plan also addresses food security for those who aren’t struggling to find meals daily. Lisa Barden, executive director of Keep Austin Fed, noted that many Austinites felt the pinch during recent winter storms. “That’s why the average Joe should care,” she said. “We’re just one natural disaster away from suddenly not having food access because we don’t have any local food connection.” Council member Vanessa Fuentes called the new com- munity initiatives a “significant step” toward addressing insecurity, especially in areas across the east side.
183
290
1
0-500
360
2,500-7,000 500-1,500 1,500-2,500
130
Austin
290
71
183
N
SOURCES: CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Going forward
Barden said strategies were designed to build off each other and may not be noticed right away. For example, setting up a “food hub” for smaller farmers to pool and distribute harvests could have wider-ranging effects on operations and local consumption over time. “If you take them just one at a time, you don’t necessarily recognize the impact they’ll have," Barden said.
2026. Council also plans to budget funding for the plan. Nitza Cuevas, program director for food business collaborative Good Work Austin, said the process set up those seeking to strengthen the food system, and that organizations involved are discussing new ways to collaborate.
Many strategies likely won’t be completed in the plan’s five-year window. Challenges such as a lack of money for high-cost land preservation also lie ahead. Officials are exploring funding for a new local food network to help implement the plan, Marty said Nov. 18. Austin is building a climate-centered bond package that could cover some of that, if approved in 2025 or
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