Nutritional Disparities in Santa Cruz County: A Search for Solutions

In recent years it has become apparent that the poor quality of processed food is driving an epidemic of ill health in the U.S. and disproportionately affecting low-income Americans. As a local food bank official put it, "We have gone from the Cold War of too few calories to the terrorism of too many calories." A consortium of community groups, rooted in Central California's farming community, has become a leader in the search for solutions. These groups have launched a drive to fight obesity and diabetes by transforming food banks into Nutrition Banks while providing targeted education and preventive care. My Online Community Building and Health Fellowship project, undertaken with Santa Cruz Wire co-founder Maria Gaura, will be a series of stories examaning this community's ground-breaking efforts.

I look forward to meeting other fellowship recipients in L.A. in a few weeks!