A food desert is an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food, in contrast with an area with higher access to supermarkets or vegetable shops with fresh foods, which is called a food oasis. The designation considers the type and quality of food available to the population, in addition to the accessibility of the food through the size and proximity of the food stores.

In 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that 23.5 million people in the U.S. live in "food deserts", meaning that they live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban or suburban areas and more than 10 miles from a supermarket in rural areas.

Food deserts tend to be inhabited by low-income residents with reduced mobility, this makes them a less attractive market for large supermarket chains. Food deserts lack suppliers of fresh foods, such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. Instead, the available foods are often processed and high in sugar and fats, which are known contributors to the proliferation of obesity in the U.S.

• StarkFresh

Working with community partners to add locations and then prioritizing completion of plan reviews has enabled the department and its partners to bring additional choices to the community.

Canton City Public Health will nominate a staff member to regularly attend StarkFresh meetings and working with the team to increase access to fresh food choices in areas of the community identified as food deserts. CCPH will complete plan reviews and licensing applications for any new food establishments, in these areas, within thirty days of plan submission.