Hot dogs, candy, your favorite drink. 

All your favorite foods make a perfect convenient store trip. Until it’s the only thing you can afford.

With growing unrest over food deserts in Wichita, families struggle with obtaining and affording healthy foods.

 “Traditionally, a food desert is defined as a low-income area where a significant number of residents have low access to supermarkets or grocery stores,” Wichita City Council member Becky Tuttle said. “The USDA describes low access for urban areas, like Wichita, as living more than one mile from a full-service grocery store.”

 A study done in 2013 by the Health & Wellness Coalition of Wichita was a catalyst in having access to healthy foods.

“At the time of the study, it was determined that there were approximately 44 square miles of Wichita that make up food deserts, with just over a quarter of Wichita’s population living in a food desert,” Tuttle said.

With concerns of food deserts, some know the importance of having healthy food in a specific area. 

“I think a supermarket is important to a general area because it gives people access to quality products for a lower price than one would get at a smaller store,” senior Savannah Hein said.

Hein works at Marketplace Dillons in Derby and knows all too well the importance of her job.

“I think it is rewarding to help people with their struggles and see the relief on their face when I can help them with something,” Hein said.

As far as future plans go for helping with food deserts, action seems to be taking hold.

“The City of Wichita and the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners have both been presented with the 10-year plan, and it is anticipated that they will adopt the plan in 2021,” Tuttle said. “This community-driven plan will be implemented by the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and community partners in a coordinated effort.”

As for Hein, she thinks in order to solve this issue, it needs to go a step further.

“I think there should be government regulations on grocery stores and where they have to set up shop to meet certain supply-and-demand needs by the people,” Hein said.

One thing is for certain — sustainability is needed.

“A healthy, sustainable local food system can bring economic, environmental, and social benefits to a community, but these benefits don’t happen automatically.  Food systems need planning, too,” Tuttle said. “Planning brings structure and strategy to local food systems growth, and helps align policies, such as ordinances, zoning, and incentives, to support the local food system.”