West Virginia, a state that conjures up memories of wooded valleys, streams, rivers, lakes and lush fields, is also a land of desert — not a hot, dry expanse, but instead areas with extensive droughts in regard to food access.

According to the USDA, a “food desert” is a “low-income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store.” This is defined as communities with a poverty rate of 20 percent or higher or a median family income at or below 80 percent of the area’s median family income or a community with one-third of its population more than a mile (or 10 miles in a rural area) from a supermarket or grocery store.

The effort has largely been spearheaded by first lady Michelle Obama, who has promoted various healthy initiatives since moving into the White House.

“The commitments we’re announcing today have the potential to be a game-changer for kids and communities all across this country,” Obama said.

“We can give people all the information and advice in the world about healthy eating and exercise, but if parents can’t buy the food they need to prepare those meals because their only options for groceries are the gas station or the local mini-mart, then all that is just talk.”

The USDA’s “Food Desert Locator” program identifies several large census tracts defined as “food deserts” immediately around Beckley and southern West Virginia. A large tract in Beckley identifies that of about 3,712 people; 596 have “low access” to grocery stores or supermarkets.

Of the 596 in that tract, 355 are considered low-income. Nearly 10 percent of people in the census tract, located between Mabscott and Sprague and east of W.Va. 16, are considered low-income and have low access to foods.

Just north of Raleigh Mall, the USDA identifies an area that includes Bradley and Prosperity where it claims 98.2 percent of people have low access to places to purchase food.

About 39 percent have low access to food and are considered low-income.

According to the USDA Food Environment Atlas, by the USDA definition and count, there were nearly 50 fast food restaurants in Raleigh County and about 15 grocery stores. The obesity rate in the county in 2008 was 31.6 percent with about 13.8 percent of adults diagnosed with diabetes.

Additionally, the “Food Environment Atlas” data suggests per capita, Raleigh County consumed about 72 gallons of soft drinks, 273 pounds of prepared foods and 100 pounds of sweet snacks in 2006.

Food deserts were also identified in Mercer, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha and other counties throughout West Virginia.

One reason the data is tracked is the notion that access to highly nutritious or fresh foods may be tied to better health. While there is some argument about access to fresh foods and consumption of fresh food, it is generally accepted that food options do play at least some role in food consumption.

“Increases in obesity and diet-related diseases are major public health problems,” a 2009 USDA report to Congress states.

 “These problems may be worse in some U.S. communities because access to affordable and nutritious foods is difficult.”

According to 2009 data, about 2.2 percent live more than a mile from a supermarket and do not have access to a vehicle. This leaves many relying on convenience foods, fast foods, or other alternatives to frequent grocery shopping.

Limited or challenged access to healthy foods has not been definitively linked to consumption of healthy foods, but that and other factors are being heavily examined by various food researchers.

Some suggestions have also been that access to unhealthy, but desirable foods is more of an indicator of community health problems than low access to healthy foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some research has indicated “many consumers continue to make unhealthy choices based on personal preferences,” despite healthier options being presented.

Thursday, a group of retailers announced efforts to reduce the occurrence of food deserts by placing more stores in underserved areas. Retailers such as SUPERVALU, Walgreens and Wal-Mart have committed to open or expand more than 1,500 locations combined over the next five years in low-income areas that lack stores likely to sell affordable and nutritious foods.

— E-mail: tkuykendall@

register-herald.com