Addressing Food Access In Arkansas

The 2022 Arkansas Governor's Food Desert Working Group Report, prepared by the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute

The report defines a food desert and details the scope of the problem in the state, highlighting the significant number of Arkansans facing food insecurity and barriers to accessing fresh, nutritious food. It presents promising models from other regions for increasing food access and provides recommendations for the Governor, state legislature, community leaders, and foundations on how to implement sustainable solutions to eliminate food deserts, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts and innovative approaches.

Recommendations for cities, towns, and municipalities who want to address food deserts locally:

1. Mobilize community-driven, creative models to increase food access.

2. Create strong community partnerships.

3. Use integrated funding combining private and public dollars.