Food Security Challenges of Miami, FL

Introduction

My hometown of Miami is known for its tropical weather, beaches, parties, diversity, art and other rich culture. It is a very beautiful city to visit but living there, especially at a middle and lower-income socioeconomic level comes with its challenges including food security. “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (Alesso-Bendisch, 2021). Feeding South Florida’s “Map the Meal Gap” analysis of food insecurity shows us that 9.1% or 241,620 individuals in Miami Dade County (MDC) are food insecure (FSF, 2018). Additionally, 20% or 109,780 children in the county don’t know where or when they will get their next meal (FSF, 2018). MDC had a total shortfall of 41,287,500 meals in 2018 (FSF, 2018). Of course, these numbers have soared since then, considering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there is also a racial and socioeconomic history and ongoing wealth-gap in the region along with always present and ever worsening climate and resource concerns; all things contributing to the growing food insecurity in Miami.

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