Food Desert

A geographic area, typically in low-income communities, where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food due to the absence of nearby grocery stores or fresh food retailers. Food deserts disproportionately affect people with disabilities, who may face additional transportation barriers, have fixed incomes, and rely on delivery services or nearby stores for basic necessities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the intersection of food deserts and disability became acute as online grocery delivery — already a critical accessibility tool for many disabled people — was overwhelmed by mainstream demand, and prioritization systems failed to identify or serve those most in need. Technology has been proposed as a potential intervention through more equitable delivery allocation, community mutual aid coordination, and accessible online ordering platforms.