Glossary
Food desert An area that has limited access to fresh, affordable, and nutritious food. Food swamp An area that has an oversupply of unhealthy food. Geographic Information Systems Computer-based tools that allow us to conceptualize and understand spatial and geographic data, such as mapping available food spaces in an area. Community food assessment A community-led analysis of the local food landscape, residents’ perceptions of the food available to them,
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food shopping behaviors, barriers to or opportunities for a healthier food system, and identification of a community’s needs—often designed to help advocacy and local food policy development. Alternative and communitybased food systems Local or global food systems that prioritize sustainability, ecological farming practices, reintegration of rural-urban communities, and community autonomy over food choices.
Photo by Héloïse de Bertoli
Local food systems Place-based and collaborative networks of food production and distribution, which can include, amongst others, food hubs, cooperatives, community-supported agriculture, community gardens, and community organizations.
