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| Aquaponic Greenhouse in our Garden Center |
As we approach the summer months, many of us love the taste of fresh produce and vegetables plucked right from the garden. You may have a garden, or may have grown up with family members or neighbors who had gardens in their backyards. We have “grown” our Garden Center here at CSM and our partner community gardens to help make fresh produce accessible to our food partners who are in food deserts and face food imbalances where they live. Food deserts are areas that lack access to affordable healthy foods. Mainstream grocery stores are far away and residents have poor access to these stores. Food imbalance exists where grocers are distant and unhealthy options are easily accessible, and is directly tied to health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Did You Know? In Jefferson County:
- More than 88,000 people and 23,000 children live in food deserts / areas of food imbalance
- 125,778 people are in poverty
- 71% of residents in Jefferson County are classified as overweight
- 31% of residents in Jefferson County are classified as obese
- 91,190 people are SNAP recipients
We also are able to help meet this food imbalance crisis in Birmingham by distributing fresh produce from our food donors. We are so grateful to our food donors who help us provide fresh produce and fruits to our partners here at CSM. Recently we received a truckload of produce from a local produce company. This donation provided individuals, families, senior citizens and after-school programs with fresh fruits and vegetables and gave our partners an opportunity to give to those they serve on a weekly basis fresh healthy food at no cost to them.
