food security

Produce section in Seed to Table grocery store in Naples on April 7, 2022. The accessibility and affordability of fruits and vegetables impact the health of communities and highlights health inequities because of social determinants.

Two communities, one county: how social determinants impact food security

Katiuska Carrillo

One grocery store in a community of roughly 25,000 people. This community has a poverty rate of 32%. The majority of the population is either Black or Latino. The median household income is roughly $33,000 a year, just $7,000 above Florida’s federal poverty line.About 50 miles away in the same county, an affluent city bursts with life and luxury. The City of Naples has an average household income of $118,141 with a poverty rate of 8%.Social determinants of health are a major reason why people born in one part of Collier County are expected to live 15 years longer than those in other parts of the county, according to life expectancy estimates from the U.S. Census Tract and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Preventing Elderly Self-Neglect with Healthy Foods & Stocked Pantries

Matthew F Smith

World Elder Abuse Awareness will be commemorated Thursday, Jun. 15, and while seniors are often targets for scams and exploitation, health officials say…

Fort Myers 'Global Garden' a Test Bed for Ending World Hunger

Matthew F Smith

A Southwest Florida group focused on spreading agricultural awareness and education around the globe is building a "global garden" test bed as part of its…