"Americans Know Ketchup But Not Tomatoes"... In Japan, It's Not Eggs But "Sashimi and Sushi Arrive" [Food Desert] ⑤

Local Governments and Major Corporations Join Forces to Support Fresh Food Access
U.S. Establishes Office of Food Justice
Japan Expands Mobile Markets Through Public-Private Partnerships
"Shopping Should Be Enjoyable"?A Senior Welfare Appro

Editor's NoteHave you ever found grocery shopping difficult? In an era where you can purchase any food you need online or offline at any time, this might seem unimaginable. However, in South Korea, there are regions where there is no supermarket within walking distance, and even delivery services do not reach, making it difficult to obtain food. These areas, where buying food is as challenging as finding an oasis in the desert, are called "food deserts." Food deserts are expanding due to factors such as an aging population, regional decline, and the digital divide. We aim to examine how the inconvenience of everyday grocery shopping is creating problems and to consider these issues together.

Major countries such as the United States and Japan, which established the concept of food deserts earlier than South Korea, are addressing food access issues by building public-private cooperative systems based on government policies. Their top priority is to create an environment where local governments and businesses can support residents living in food deserts by enacting laws or local ordinances. As the central government’s response in South Korea is still in its infancy, this suggests that, to prevent the further spread of food deserts, the country must consider proactive legislation as well as multilateral cooperation approaches.

The "Farmers Market" hosted by the Food Justice Department in Boston, USA. It allows purchasing agricultural products using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) card, the basic food assistance system in the United States. Food Justice Department.

Americans Know Ketchup but Not Tomatoes... Food Is Justice

The U.S. government places "food justice"-the principle that everyone should have equal access to fresh food-at the heart of its policy initiatives. This is because food deserts in the United States are not just about access to food, but also encompass issues of wealth disparity and racial discrimination. Food deserts in the U.S. tend to form in low-income areas with high poverty rates. According to a report by the Department of Agriculture, about 19 million people-6% of the total population-live in food deserts. Rather than cooking with fresh ingredients, many consume simple frozen or processed foods. There is even a joke that some people "know ketchup but have never seen the tomatoes that make it."

Academics believe that non-white populations are more likely to live in food deserts. Historically, capital has been concentrated in white mainstream communities, and food deserts are seen as a reflection of this. The American Public Health Association reported in a study on food justice that Black Americans are 1.77 times more likely, and Native Americans 1.6 times more likely, to be diagnosed with diabetes or obesity compared to white Americans.

As a result, many U.S. state governments offer incentives to businesses that open grocery stores in food deserts. Since purchasing power is lower in these areas compared to other commercial districts, the government steps in to provide as much support as possible. States such as Illinois, Louisiana, and Ohio have enacted laws providing monthly subsidies and low-interest loans to individuals or distributors opening stores in food deserts. This is in stark contrast to South Korea, where food desert-related legislation has not even been introduced in the National Assembly, and local agricultural cooperatives or village co-ops must take the initiative to operate mobile markets.

Some state governments have also established control towers to address food desert issues. Boston, for example, created the "Office of Food Justice." This department, with the slogan "Building a Sustainable and Just Food System," is actively working to resolve food desert problems. By collaborating with agricultural and fisheries producers, as well as community organizations, it is expanding distribution facilities by opening public markets in food deserts.

Instructions for using the Tanzello application (app). It allows you to order fresh groceries online and have them delivered to your home. Tanzello.

In South Korea, food deserts often refer to areas where the distribution network is underdeveloped and e-commerce delivery is unavailable. In contrast, the United States has online services dedicated specifically to people living in food deserts. The Tanzello application, which mainly operates in Los Angeles, is a prime example. When local hospitals identify low-income individuals living in food deserts, they recommend signing up for the Tanzello app. After joining and passing an income eligibility review, users receive points that can be used to receive fresh fruits, vegetables, or healthy lunch boxes delivered to their homes for six months.

Japan’s Mobile Marts at the Center of Senior Welfare

Japan’s food desert problem is closely tied to its aging population. According to the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, as of 2020, 9.04 million people in Japan had no access to grocery stores by foot or car, and 5.66 million of them (63%) were aged 75 or older. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare warned that 16.8% of seniors aged 65 and over are in a state of undernutrition due to unbalanced diets, with academics identifying food deserts as a key cause. As a result, mobile marts that deliver groceries directly to seniors have become a central solution.

Japan is developing its mobile mart business through public-private partnerships. The major supermarket chain Ito Yokado launched the mobile mart brand "Tokushimaru," which regularly visits areas without grocery stores. Ito Yokado has incorporated its chain operation expertise into these mobile marts. In addition to basic food and daily necessities, they offer a wide variety of products, including sashimi, sushi, and clothing, bringing vitality to local communities. Unlike in South Korea, where only basic items like bean sprouts, rice, and eggs are sold, Japan’s mobile marts are more like general stores, offering a much wider selection. The aim is to give seniors the joy of shopping by allowing them to touch and choose from a variety of products.

The mobile mart Tokushimaru is preparing to open for business. Kantele.

Furthermore, leveraging the advantage of direct contact with elderly residents, Tokushimaru has signed "watch-over agreements" with 300 local governments. Employees provide advance education on scams such as voice phishing to prevent seniors from falling victim to crime, and quickly connect them to relevant agencies if health issues or emergencies arise. This is an example of fully utilizing the synergy that can be achieved through collaboration with private companies.

An employee of the Japanese mobile market "Tokushimaru" is handing out flyers warning about scams such as voice phishing. Tokushimaru.

Japan is also working to resolve food deserts in urban areas. As prices in Tokyo have risen, the purchasing power of seniors without fixed incomes has declined, and the city has already experienced the emergence of food deserts in the capital.

To address this, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has deployed mobile marts to every public housing complex it operates. When private businesses apply to operate in Tokyo, the government categorizes them and assigns them to the relevant local governments, which then select the most suitable operators. As a result, depending on the characteristics of each area, some focus on fresh food while others expand daily necessities, allowing for efficient management.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and Australia are also among the countries that have taken early action to address food deserts. The UK central government operates a program called "Healthy Start," which provides prepaid cards for purchasing dairy, fruits, and vegetables to households with pregnant women over 10 weeks or children under four, aiming to supply fresh food during critical periods for balanced nutrition. In Australia, the city of Melbourne has announced policies to promote food justice and is working to resolve food deserts by expanding food banks.