Food Deserts and the Importance of Farmers Markets

Long Island’s relative wealth to other parts of the nation often mask troubling problems that plague our older suburban area. A recent report by Adelphi’s Dr. Sarah Eichberg, which was culmination of two years’ worth of hard work, highlights one particular issue that many aren’t familiar with- the prevalence of suburban “Food Deserts”.  A Food Desert is defined by the US Department of Agriculture as “geographic areas where people have difficulty accessing affordable, healthy food”.  

Both Suffolk and Nassau Counties have 14 low-income areas where a supermarket is more than a mile away from the residential section of town. Community planners define true “walkability”, or the standard for a resident to walk to typical community services, as a half mile radius around a given location. According to an April 12th Editorial in Newsday, 7,166 housing units are home to residents with no vehicular access or a nearby supermarket to frequent.  These residents are restricted in their food choices and are forced to make tough dietary choices.

The lack of access to healthy, fresh food in many parts of Long Island is unfortunate, because our agricultural heritage is still alive and well east of Exit 63. While many picture Long Island as Levittown-style houses sprawling across the landscape, few know that Suffolk County is New York State’s leading agricultural county. We are the New York state’s largest producer of pumpkins, cauliflower and tomatoes and are the third-largest producer of grapes, peaches and strawberries. While we are known for our shopping malls and housing tracts, our farms are a force to be reckoned with- especially in regard to the elimination of these food deserts

Teachers Federal Credit Union is actively working to reduce the impact these food deserts have on residents. As a locally grown business, we understand the importance of investing in the health and well-being of all Long Islanders. To directly combat our local Food Desert, our Hauppauge Headquarters is hosting the TFCU Long Island Growers Farmers Market every Thursday to August 29th (with the exception of July 4th), 8 am-2pm. Vendors will be providing us “up-Islanders” with locally grown fruit and vegetables.  We invite everyone to come by- we are located at 102 Motor Parkway, directly off of Exit 53 on the LIE.  

Local hunger is a particular concern during the summer months for children who rely on schools to serve healthy breakfasts and lunches. To address this problem, TFCU is collecting peanut butter and jelly jars on site and at their branches for distribution at local food banks to help alleviate some of local families’ needs this summer. Everyone is welcome to stop by and donate what they can.

We look forward to seeing you!