USDA-designated food bank serving food deserts in South Carolina through mobile distribution.
USDA-designated food bank serving food deserts in South Carolina through mobile distribution.
USDA-designated food bank serving food deserts in South Carolina through mobile distribution.
USDA-designated food bank serving food deserts in South Carolina through mobile distribution.
Food deserts are geographic areas where residents have limited access to healthy, affordable food options and are disproportionately located in communities with high poverty rates. While there is no universally agreed-upon definition, U.S. government agencies and researchers typically identify food deserts by examining factors such as food insecurity, household income, proximity to grocery stores, and access to reliable transportation. The root causes of food deserts are complex, often stemming from intertwined social, economic, and political conditions. These areas are widespread across the United States and are associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.
The USDA defines a food desert as an area where at least one-third of the population lives more than one mile from a large grocery store in urban areas and more than ten miles in rural areas. As of 2023, an estimated 17.4 million people in the United States live in low-income and low-access areas commonly referred to as food deserts, These areas are widespread across the United States with disproportionately high impacts in minority and rural communities.
More than 14.5% of South Carolina residents lack reliable access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food—placing the state among those with the highest rates of food insecurity in the United States. In fiscal year 2024, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) served approximately 605,500 people across the state, including over 231,800 children. As of April 2025, over 567,000 South Carolinians were enrolled in federal food assistance programs.
The USDA defines food insecurity as a household’s inability to consistently provide enough food for every person to lead an active, healthy life. This includes disruptions in food intake or eating patterns due to lack of resources, as well as uncertainty or limited access to nutritious food. According to the USDA, an estimated 87.2% of U.S. households were food secure in 2022, meaning approximately 12.8%—or 17 million households—experienced food insecurity at some point during the year. Among households with children, about 17.3% experienced food insecurity, with 6.4% facing very low food security, meaning both adults and children faced reduced food intake or disrupted eating patterns due to a lack of food.
Sign up to get the latest news on developments!