Eatwell Exchange, a nonprofit dedicated to food justice, held the first of a multi-session family gardening and cooking cohort event series on Oct. 18, in partnership with Dunns Overtown Farms.
Food insecurity in Overtown is driven by factors like nearby gentrification and the lack of full-service grocery stores in the area. Major grocery chains are reluctant to open in Overtown due to profitability concerns, making the community a food desert. According to a research study by the National Library of Medicine, disenfranchisement and socioeconomic deprivation have been identified as fundamental causes of health issues and disease in Overtown.
Eatwell Exchange program director Ashley Carter is a registered dietitian. Only 2.6 percent of registered dietitians are Black or African American, according to a diversity study by dining management company Unidine.
Carter emphasized that ZIP code is a better predictor of lifespan than genetic code. She highlighted the importance of consuming healthy foods to prevent diseases like high blood pressure, comparing the body to a well-oiled machine that functions better with good fuel…