In many cities around the world, gastronomic culture is a very important social and cultural phenomenon and is often the key to attracting tourists and gaining reputation.
That said, no matter where you are, there are some cities that are famous for their food, while others are known as food deserts.
In this article, we’ll explore the causes of food deserts in more detail and with a specific urban analogy.
Food deserts refer to cities that lack unique traditional dishes and food culture.
These cities often lack a variety of practical dining facilities and a certain number of high-quality grocery stores.
In a sense, there is also a lack of food-related industries around the city, such as agriculture and production equipment.
Food supply in cities is usually dominated by large chain stores and fast food restaurants, and these vendors often only offer standardized food menus rather than traditional or local cuisine.
In food deserts, many people experience numerous inconveniences.
They need to spend time and energy looking for high-quality grocery stores or specialty restaurants, or they must travel long distances to other cities to find a variety of delicious food.
It is difficult for people to discover new foods or develop new cooking skills in such an environment.
In addition, the lack of a food industry will reduce local jobs, leading to reduced economic power for consumers and socioeconomic inequality.
In the United States, Amarillo, Texas is a city considered a food desert.
The city is located in the northernmost tip of Texas, quite far from large markets and food supply centers.
The city is mainly surrounded by agriculture and desert, which cannot provide a complete food industry chain.
As a result, the city's food supply is primarily provided by local grocery stores as well as fast food chains and large retail stores, which often offer standardized food menus.
People are frustrated by the impact of food deserts and feel they are unable to experience the true meaning of food culture.
In the food desert city of Amarillo, people need to spend time traveling to surrounding cities to find high-quality food or specialty restaurants.
And, when needed, they also have to pay more for imported food and ingredients.
For many, this severely limits their choices and prevents them from upgrading. However, some Texas cities also point the way for people to understand the values ??of community development.
These cities also provide people with more choices by understanding the food offerings of different cultures and geographical environments.
For example, the state launched cooperatives of community farmers and provided financial support to newer local food industries to help farmers produce larger quantities.
In this case, these farmers are able to promote the growth of their own industries while creating more new meal and gourmet market opportunities for consumers.
All in all, gastronomic culture is a unique treasure of each city, reflecting the values ??and cultural background of the local community.
However, in cities with food deserts, food culture is very scarce, which will seriously affect people's quality of life and social economy.
However, we can encourage the growth of a locally grown food industry so that communities can thrive and become more diverse.
Ultimately, by promoting the success of these food industries, we can encourage the growth of food culture and build a better future.