Emily Frisan

Nourishing the Nation: Understanding Food Insecurity

Welcome to the second episode of Food For Thought where I delve into the pressing issue of food insecurity in the United States and shine a light on this complex problem, its causes, and its far-reaching consequences. Using data from the United States Department of Agriculture, the Economic Research Service, and more, I discuss how income, employment, race/ethnicity, disability, and geography play significant roles in food accessibility. Dylan Turner, a PhD student, proves the potential of community land trusts (CLTs) in addressing food insecurity, involving democratic decision-making and offering a promising avenue for sustainable community development. 

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Episode Five: Cultivating Cities: Gastrodevelopment, food, and heritage in Tucson, Arizona – Food for Thought with Emily Frisan

Food systems play a pivotal role in shaping cities, particularly within the United States by influencing environmental sustainability, resilience, waste reduction, and community well-being. In this episode, I’ll speak with Dr. Eden Kinkaid, a recent graduate from the Ph.D. program in Geography at the University of Arizona, who has positioned themselves as a critical human-environment geographer with diverse interests. Their dissertation actively engaged in researching issues related to agriculture and food systems in southern Arizona. Our conversation delves into the ways in which food culture and heritage can be harnessed as powerful tools for fostering growth in cities like Tucson.  Resources: The $16 Taco: Contested Geographies of Food, Ethnicity, and Gentrification – https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295749280/the-16-taco/ UNESCO Creative Cities Network – https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities Learn more about their dissertation:  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02723638.2023.2296763 https://www.shareable.net/cities_tufts/consuming-the-creative-city-with-eden-kinkaid/  Connect with Eden: https://sites.google.com/view/edenkinkaid  https://twitter.com/queergeog  https://twitter.com/WTFisGeography  Keep an eye out for Dr. Kinkaid’s article Consuming the Creative City: Gastrodevelopment in a UNESCO City of Gastronomy (forthcoming) in Urban Geography.

1. Episode Five: Cultivating Cities: Gastrodevelopment, food, and heritage in Tucson, Arizona 45:53
2. Episode Four: Hunger Exists in Every Zip Code 34:08
3. Episode Three: You Pay for Everything: Navigating the Culinary Landscape 23:09
4. Episode Two: Nourishing the Nation: Understanding Food Insecurity 46:29
5. The Introduction | Food for Thought with Emily Frisan 06:20

Check out the post to Episode One. The first episode of Food for Thought explains the introduction to exploring the intersections of food, society, and justice. 

Flynn, Meagan. 2023. “D.C. Council Member Fears for the Future of Ward 8’s Only Grocery Store.” The Washington Post, August 11. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/11/giant-supermarket-ward-8-dc-future/.  

Tomer, Adie, and Caroline George. 2022. “Beyond ‘Food Deserts’: America Needs a New Approach to Mapping Food Insecurity.” Brookings. March 9. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/beyond-food-deserts-america-needs-a-new-approach-to-mapping-food-insecurity/. 

Rabbitt, Matthew, Laura Hales, Michael Burke, and Alisha Coleman-Jensen. 2023. “Household Food Security in the United States in 2022.” Economic Research Service. United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/107703/err-325.pdf?v=9579. 

Rabbitt, Matthew, Laura Hales, Madeline Reed-Jones, and Alisha Coleman-Jensen. 2023. “Food Security in the U.S. – Measurement.” USDA ERS – Measurement. Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/measurement/#hunger. 

Transcript