New Interactive Map Visualizes Mounting Issue of Grocery Deserts
Posted by Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity on March 31, 2026
The issue of grocery deserts—sections of the country that lack dependable sources of fresh and healthy food—continues to become acute in many parts of America. To visualize the problem and rally activists and policymakers to seek solutions, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance recently published an interactive map showing grocery deserts by community and by congressional district. For this exclusive Spotlight recently spoke with Katy Milani, the associate director for Policy and Advocacy for ILSR’s Independent Business Program, about the map and its potential uses. Said Milani: “One of the things that we’ve been unearthing is that this is not some natural phenomenon that’s impacting rural communities because there aren’t that many people and it doesn’t economically make sense for the independent grocer to remain. We actually think there’s something deeper happening from a policy standpoint, and that’s just that the independent cannot compete.”
More in "New Resources"
- Reflections on AmeriCorps Week
- Hope Found Here: Recapping the Compact26 conference
- This Month in Policy: Monthly Digest for PA Non-Profits
Stay Current in Philly's Higher Education and Nonprofit Sector
We compile a weekly email with local events, resources, national conferences, calls for proposals, grant, volunteer and job opportunities in the higher education and nonprofit sectors.
Subscribe