DETROIT​ ​FOOD​ ​METRICS​ ​REPORT
   
    This​ ​report​ ​provides​ ​a​ ​snapshot​ ​of​ ​data 
    and​ ​information​ ​on​ ​Detroit’s​ ​food​ ​system 
    as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​trends​ ​over​ ​time.​ ​The​ ​report 
    includes​ ​a​ ​broad​ ​range​ ​of​ ​programs​ ​and 
   
   
initiatives​ ​that​ ​local​ ​organizations,​ ​the 
    Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​City 
    of​ ​Detroit​ ​are​ ​undertaking​ ​to​ ​address 
    food​ ​insecurity,​ ​increase​ ​healthy​ ​food 
   
access​ ​and​ ​awareness,​ ​and​ ​support​ ​a 
   
    more​ ​sustainable​ ​and​ ​just​ ​food​ ​system.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    SUGGESTED​ ​CITATION 
Hill,​ ​Alex​ ​B.​ ​and​ ​Amy​ ​Kuras.​ ​Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Metrics 
    Report​ ​2017.​ ​Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​and​ ​Detroit 
    Health​ ​Department​ ​(2017). 
     
     
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  1  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

 
 
____  TABLE​ ​OF​ ​CONTENTS 
INTRODUCTION   
 
The​ ​Detroit​ ​food​ ​system​ ​is​ ​garnering  1. Understanding​ ​the 
  buzz​ ​nationally​ ​and​ ​locally​ ​-​ ​urban​ ​farms,  Food​ ​&​ ​Health 
farm-to-table​ ​restaurants,​ ​and​ ​big​ ​chain  Connection  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​8 
 
retail​ ​grocers​ ​are​ ​spurring​ ​media   
coverage,​ ​sparking​ ​insightful  2. Increasing​ ​Healthy 
 
conversation,​ ​and​ ​drawing​ ​consumer, 
investor,​ ​and​ ​foundation​ ​funding.​ ​Among  Food​ ​Access​ ​& 
 
all​ ​the​ ​excitement​ ​is​ ​the​ ​risk​ ​that​ ​the​ ​new  Awareness ​ ​ ​ ​12 
  will​ ​overshadow​ ​the​ ​persistent​ ​inequity   

and​ ​food​ ​access​ ​issues​ ​faced​ ​by​ ​many  3. Addressing 

  Detroiters.   Emergency​ ​Food​ ​& 
 
 
Detroit​ ​has​ ​the​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​show​ ​how​ ​a 
Insecurity ​ ​ ​ ​18 
 
growing​ ​food​ ​system​ ​can​ ​benefit 
 
everyone​ ​as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​we​ ​keep​ ​equity​ ​at 
4. Supporting 
  the​ ​center​ ​of​ ​our​ ​work.    Sustainable​ ​Food 
 
  Purchasing​ ​and 
 
 
Production ​ ​ ​ ​24 
 
 
 
   
5. Fostering 
  Opportunity​ ​& 
 
  Economic​ ​Mobility 
   
with​ ​Food ​ ​ ​ ​30 
 
   
 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  2  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____ 
FOOD​ ​SYSTEMS
A​ ​food​ ​system​ ​is​ ​everything​ ​from​ ​field​ ​to 
fork​ ​and​ ​back​ ​again.  

There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​important​ ​steps​ ​along 

the​ ​way​ ​that​ ​are​ ​typically​ ​unseen,​ ​such 
as​ ​the​ ​manufacturing​ ​and​ ​application​ ​of 
farm​ ​inputs​ ​(fertilizers,​ ​pesticides,​ ​seeds), 
the​ ​processing​ ​and​ ​packaging​ ​of​ ​food 
products,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​management​ ​of​ ​food 
waste.​ ​The​ ​food​ ​system​ ​also​ ​includes 
both​ ​the​ ​human​ ​actors​ ​and​ ​the​ ​natural 
resources​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​it​ ​moving.  

A​ ​healthy​ ​and​ ​sustainable​ ​food​ ​system 

encompasses​ ​the​ ​goals​ ​of​ ​social​ ​equity 
and​ ​human​ ​health,​ ​economic​ ​vitality,​ ​and 
environmental​ ​health.​ ​A​ ​sustainable​ ​food 
system​ ​exists​ ​when​ ​production, 
processing,​ ​distribution,​ ​access, 
consumption,​ ​and​ ​waste​ ​management 
are​ ​integrated​ ​and​ ​these​ ​practices 
improve​ ​or​ ​maintain​ ​natural​ ​resources, 
are​ ​just​ ​and​ ​accessible,​ ​and​ ​support​ ​the 
resilience​ ​of​ ​local​ ​communities​ ​and 
economies. 

In​ ​Detroit,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​different 

stakeholders​ ​within​ ​each​ ​food​ ​sector. 

Image​ ​adapted​ ​from​ ​Rust2Green​ ​Food​ ​System​ ​Diagram.

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  3  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____  ____  ____ 

FOOD​ ​&​ ​HEALTH  FOOD​ ​ACCESS​ ​&  FOOD​ ​PRODUCTION
AWARENESS 
Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department​ ​(DHD)  Keep​ ​Growing​ ​Detroit​ ​(KGD) 
Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​(DFPC) 
Women,​ ​Infants,​ ​and​ ​Children​ ​(WIC)  Detroit​ ​Black​ ​Community​ ​Food​ ​Security 
Detroit​ ​Food​ ​and​ ​Fitness​ ​Collaborative  Network​ ​(DBCFSN) 
Healthy​ ​Food​ ​in​ ​Healthcare​ ​Workgroup   (DFFC) 
City​ ​Commons  
Fresh​ ​Prescription​ ​Program   Cooking​ ​Matters  
Drew​ ​Farm  
Generations​ ​with​ ​Promise   Meet​ ​Up​ ​and​ ​Eat​ ​Up  
Grown​ ​in​ ​Detroit​ ​Cooperative 
National​ ​Kidney​ ​Foundation​ ​of​ ​Michigan  Eastern​ ​Market​ ​Corporation​ ​(EMC) 
Oakland​ ​Avenue​ ​Farm 
Detroit​ ​Parks​ ​and​ ​Recreation  Detroit​ ​Community​ ​Markets​ ​(DCM) 
Department​ ​(DPRD)  Rising​ ​Pheasant​ ​Farms 
Fair​ ​Food​ ​Network​ ​(FFN) 
Detroit​ ​Economic​ ​Growth​ ​Corporation  Brother​ ​Nature​ ​Produce 
(DEGC)  Detroit​ ​Independent​ ​Grocers 
____ 
____  Supplemental​ ​Nutrition​ ​Assistance 
Program​ ​(SNAP)  FOOD​ ​OPPORTUNITY
FOOD​ ​SECURITY
Associated​ ​Food​ ​and​ ​Petroleum​ ​Dealers  FoodLab  
United​ ​Way​ ​of​ ​Southeastern​ ​Michigan  (AFPD) 
(UWSEM)  BUILD​ ​Institute 
Spartan​ ​Nash  
Gleaners​ ​Community​ ​Food​ ​Bank  Food​ ​Warriors 
Peaches​ ​&​ ​Greens 
Forgotten​ ​Harvest  Good​ ​Food​ ​Ambassadors  
Fresh​ ​Corner​ ​Cafe​ ​-​ ​Pop-up​ ​Markets 
Double​ ​Up​ ​Food​ ​Bucks  Youth​ ​Growing​ ​Detroit  
Office​ ​of​ ​School​ ​Nutrition​ ​(DPSCD) 
Capuchin​ ​Soup​ ​Kitchen   Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Academy 
Focus:HOPE 
 
Green​ ​Grocer​ ​Project 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  4  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____ 
TIMELINE:​ ​DETROIT​ ​FOOD​ ​POLICY 

2006  Detroit​ ​Black​ ​Community​ ​Food​ ​Security 

Network​ ​(DBCFSN)​ ​drafts​ ​Food​ ​Security 
Policy 

2008  Detroit​ ​Public​ ​Schools​ ​(DPS)​ ​brings 

school​ ​nutrition​ ​in-house​ ​to​ ​improve 
quality 

2009  Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​(DFPC) 

forms​ ​after​ ​City​ ​Council​ ​adopts​ ​the 
DBCFSN​ ​Food​ ​Security​ ​Policy 

2012  DPS​ ​launches​ ​Farm-to-School​ ​program  

2013  Urban​ ​Agriculture​ ​Ordinance​ ​adopted​ ​by 

City​ ​Council    
 
2014  DPS​ ​launches​ ​Detroit​ ​School​ ​Garden 
Collaborative​​ ​with​ ​Greening​ ​of​ ​Detroit, 
UWSEM,​ ​MSU​ ​Extension,​ ​and​ ​other 
partners 
 
2016  Food​ ​Security​ ​Policy​​ ​updated​ ​by​ ​DFPC 
 
through​ ​community​ ​outreach​ ​and 
engagement​ ​efforts   
Internal​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Workgroup​ ​formed 
(City​ ​of​ ​Detroit,​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Sustainability)   

 
2017  Health​ ​Department​ ​creates​ ​Food​ ​Access 
Program​ ​Manager​​ ​position​ ​to   
coordinate​ ​activities  
 
 
   

 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  5  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   
____ 
   

BY​ ​THE​ ​NUMBERS     

~30​k  48​%  40​% 

people​ ​without​ ​access   of​ ​households   of​ ​households​ ​using 
to​ ​a​ ​full-line​ ​grocer1  food​ ​insecure3  SNAP 5 

     

18​% 
 

74  19​%  SNAP​ ​eligible  

full-line​ ​grocery   of​ ​children​ ​enrolled   households  
stores2  in​ ​WIC 4   not​ ​enrolled​6 

   
3
​ ​Allard,​ ​Scott​ ​W.,​ ​Maria​ ​V.​ ​Wathen,​ ​H.​ ​Luke​ ​Shaefer,​ ​and 
 
Sandra​ ​K.​ ​Danziger.​ ​"Neighborhood​ ​Food​ ​Infrastructure​ ​and 
1
​ ​Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Map​ ​Initiative.​ ​based​ ​on​ ​Census​ ​Bureau,​ ​ACS  Food​ ​Security​ ​in​ ​Metropolitan​ ​Detroit."​ ​Journal​ ​of​ ​Consumer 
2015​ ​5-year​ ​estimates.   Affairs​ ​(2017). 
2 4 5
​ ​Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Map​ ​Initiative​ ​(2017).​ ​http://detroitfoodmap.com  ​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department,​ ​WIC​ ​Program  ​ ​Census​ ​Bureau,​ ​ACS​ ​2015​ ​5-year​ ​estimates.  
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  6  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

     

75​%  432  17 

of​ ​produce​ ​from  
community   farmers​ ​markets  
Drew​ ​Farm​ ​into  
gardens8  and​ ​farm​ ​stands10 
school​ ​cafeterias6 

     
     

36,000  $178​ M   $3.7​B  

annual​ ​loss​ ​in   total​ ​annual  
jobs​ ​in​ ​food​ ​system   7
grocery​ ​retail   revenue​ ​from​ ​the  
revenue​ ​in​ ​Detroit9  food​ ​system​8 

   

6 8
​ ​DPSCD,​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​School​ ​Nutrition  ​ ​Keep​ ​Growing​ ​Detroit,​ ​Annual​ ​Report​ ​(2016).  
7 9
​ ​Economic​ ​Analysis​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Detroit​ ​Food​ ​System.​ ​Detroit​ ​Food  ​ ​Detroit​ ​Economic​ ​Growth​ ​Corporation.​ ​Green​ ​Grocer​ ​Project 
10
&​ ​Fitness​ ​Collaborative​ ​(2014).   (2016).  ​ ​Eastern​ ​Market,​ ​Detroit​ ​Community​ ​Markets​ ​(2017). 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  7  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____  Physical​ ​environments,​ ​neighborhoods, 

​ ​1. 
and​ ​cities​ ​are​ ​often​ ​the​ ​focus​ ​for 
HEALTH  improving​ ​food​ ​access,​ ​but​ ​complicated 
social​ ​and​ ​service​ ​environments​ ​have 
It​ ​is​ ​no​ ​wonder​ ​that​ ​the​ ​food​ ​we​ ​eat  the​ ​greatest​ ​impact​ ​on​ ​our​ ​health.11​ ​One 
impacts​ ​our​ ​day-to-day​ ​health​ ​and  of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​important​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​a 
well-being.​ ​Food​ ​provides​ ​our​ ​minds​ ​and  healthy​ ​food​ ​system​ ​is​ ​good​ ​paying​ ​jobs. 
​ ​ ​Understanding  bodies​ ​with​ ​the​ ​fuel​ ​to​ ​think,​ ​move,​ ​and  A​ ​preliminary​ ​study​ ​of​ ​food​ ​consumption 
play.   behavior​ ​found​ ​that​ ​family​ ​income​ ​rather 
​ ​ ​the​ ​Food​ ​&    
A​ ​Healthier​ ​City​ ​Begins​ ​with​ ​Food!  
than​ ​location​ ​was​ ​a​ ​primary​ ​driver​ ​for 
eating​ ​more​ ​fresh​ ​produce.12 
​ ​ ​Health    

​ ​ ​Connection  
 

11
​ ​Darmon,​ ​Nicole,​ ​and​ ​Adam​ ​Drewnowski.​ ​"Contribution​ ​of 
food​ ​prices​ ​and​ ​diet​ ​cost​ ​to​ ​socioeconomic​ ​disparities​ ​in​ ​diet 
quality​ ​and​ ​health:​ ​a​ ​systematic​ ​review​ ​and​ ​analysis." 
Nutrition​ ​reviews​ ​73,​ ​no.​ ​10​ ​(2015):​ ​643-660. 
12  
​ ​Hill,​ ​Alex​ ​B.,​ ​and​ ​Sylvie​ ​Naar-King.​ ​“Fruit​ ​and​ ​Vegetable 
  Availability,​ ​Quality,​ ​&​ ​Consumption​ ​in​ ​Detroit’s​ ​Food​ ​Desert 
among​ ​African​ ​American​ ​Adolescents​ ​with​ ​Obesity.”​ ​Poster 
  presented​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Annual​ ​Meeting​ ​of​ ​the​ ​American​ ​Public 
  Health​ ​Association​ ​(APHA),​ ​New​ ​Orleans,​ ​LA​ ​(2014). 
 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  8  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   
____ 
CHRONIC​ ​DISEASE      
In​ ​the​ ​2013-2015​ ​Michigan​ ​Behavioral 
Risk​ ​Factor​ ​Survey​ ​(BRFSS)​ ​3-year   
averages,​ ​Detroit​ ​ranked​ ​second​ ​in​ ​the 
state​ ​with​ ​36.8%13​ ​of​ ​the​ ​adult​ ​population   
with​ ​obesity.​ ​Detroit’s​ ​obesity​ ​rate​ ​also 
ranked​ ​highest​ ​among​ ​other​ ​large   
metropolitan​ ​areas.14​ ​The​ ​city​ ​has​ ​some 
of​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​rates​ ​in​ ​the​ ​country​ ​for 
 
chronic​ ​disease,​ ​appearing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​top​ ​10 
out​ ​of​ ​500​ ​cities​ ​for​ ​obesity​ ​(​#2​),​ ​heart 
 
disease​ ​(​#10​),​ ​and​ ​diabetes​ ​(​#2​).15  

37​% 
 

of​ ​Detroit​ ​adults​ ​with 

 
obesity​3 
 
 
13
​ ​Fussman,​ ​Chris.​ ​2013-2015​ ​Michigan​ ​BRFS​ ​Regional​ ​&​ ​Local   
Health​ ​Department​ ​Estimates.​ ​MDHHS​ ​(2016). 
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdhhs/2013-2015_MiBR
FSS_Reg__LHD_Tables_9.16.16_535671_7.pdf   
14
​ ​NACCHO.​ ​Big​ ​Cities​ ​Health​ ​Coalition. 
   
http://bigcitieshealth.org 
15
​ ​CDC.​ ​500​ ​Cities​ ​Project.​ ​http://cdc.gov/500cities 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  9  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

 
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DIET-RELATED​ ​DEATHS 
“ Poor​ ​diet​ ​generates 
Health​ ​conditions​ ​and​ ​diseases​ ​like 
obesity,​ ​diabetes,​ ​and​ ​heart​ ​disease​ ​can  a​ ​bigger​ ​non- 
lead​ ​to​ ​health​ ​complications​ ​and  communicable 
untimely​ ​death.​ ​The​ ​disastrous​ ​impact​ ​of  disease​ ​(NCD)​ ​burden 
poor​ ​diet​ ​on​ ​our​ ​health​ ​is​ ​widely​ ​known, 
and​ ​yet​ ​still​ ​underestimated.​ ​Four​ ​of​ ​the  than​ ​tobacco, 
top​ ​ten​ ​leading​ ​causes​ ​of​ ​death​ ​in​ ​the  alcohol,​ ​and​ ​physical 
United​ ​States​ ​can​ ​be​ ​linked​ ​to​ ​poor​ ​diet:  activity​ ​combined.” 17 
  heart​ ​disease,​ ​cancer,​ ​stroke,​ ​and 
 
diabetes.​ ​In​ ​2014​ ​alone,​ ​heart​ ​disease 
  killed​ ​633,842​​ ​Americans.16​ ​Diets​ ​that   
are​ ​high​ ​in​ ​sugar,​ ​trans​ ​fats,​ ​and 
HEART​ ​DISEASE​ ​MORTALITY 
preservatives​ ​put​ ​strain​ ​on​ ​the​ ​heart,  IN​ ​DETROIT​ ​2000​ ​-​ ​2014 18 

14​% 
liver,​ ​kidneys,​ ​colon,​ ​and​ ​can​ ​cause 
system-wide​ ​inflammatory​ ​responses 
that​ ​are​ ​detrimental​ ​to​ ​long-term​ ​health. 

Americans​ ​need​ ​access​ ​to​ ​nutritious 

foods,​ ​but​ ​they​ ​also​ ​need​ ​education​ ​on 
making​ ​the​ ​right​ ​choices.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​why 
of​ ​Detroit​ ​adults​ ​told  food​ ​policy​ ​is​ ​so​ ​important​ ​and​ ​the 
 
they​ ​have​ ​diabetes​3  collaborators​ ​who​ ​work​ ​to​ ​improve 
systems​ ​and​ ​impact​ ​communities​ ​play​ ​a  17
​ ​Hyseni,​ ​L.,​ ​M.​ ​Atkinson,​ ​H.​ ​Bromley,​ ​L.​ ​Orton,​ ​F. 
critical​ ​role.   Lloyd-Williams,​ ​R.​ ​McGill,​ ​and​ ​S.​ ​Capewell.​ ​"The​ ​effects​ ​of 
  policy​ ​actions​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​population​ ​dietary​ ​patterns​ ​and 
prevent​ ​diet-related​ ​non-communicable​ ​diseases:​ ​scoping 
  review."​ ​European​ ​Journal​ ​of​ ​Clinical​ ​Nutrition​ ​71,​ ​no.​ ​6​ ​(2017): 
16 694. 
​ ​National​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​Health​ ​Statistics.​ ​Centers​ ​for​ ​Disease  18
Control​ ​and​ ​Prevention​ ​(2017).  ​ ​ ​MDHHS​ ​Vital​ ​Statistics​ ​(2015).  
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm.    
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  10  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  11  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

 
____ 

​ ​2. 
Despite​ ​these​ ​designations,​ ​the 
HEALTHY​ ​FOOD​ ​ACCESS   majority​ ​of​ ​Detroit​ ​is​ ​not​ ​a​ ​geographic 
“food​ ​desert”​ ​as​ ​much​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​an 
As​ ​early​ ​as​ ​2004,​ ​research​ ​conducted​ ​in  “opportunity​ ​desert”​ ​where​ ​income, 
Detroit​ ​labeled​ ​the​ ​city​ ​a​ ​food​ ​desert.19  time,​ ​and​ ​transportation​ ​exacerbate 
Increasing  The​ ​official​ ​designation​ ​of​ ​“food​ ​desert” 
is​ ​determined​ ​by​ ​the​ ​USDA​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the 
lack​ ​of​ ​access​ ​to​ ​good​ ​food​ ​for​ ​health 
and​ ​nutrition.  
Healthy​ ​Food  Healthy​ ​Food​ ​Financing​ ​Initiative​ ​(HFFI)20 
and​ ​includes​ ​low-income​ ​areas​ ​as 
 

16​% 
Access​ ​&   determined​ ​by​ ​the​ ​New​ ​Market​ ​Tax 
Credits​ ​(NMTC).21  

​ ​ ​Awareness   
 
The​ ​areas​ ​of​ ​Detroit​ ​designated​ ​as​ ​“food 
deserts”​ ​are​ ​few,​ ​but​ ​have​ ​expanded 
between​ ​2010​ ​and​ ​2015​ ​to​ ​include​ ​more 
areas​ ​of​ ​the​ ​city​ ​that​ ​have​ ​had​ ​grocery 
store​ ​closings.​ ​Urban​ ​areas​ ​that​ ​have  of​ ​Detroit​ ​adults​ ​eat​ ​5  
more​ ​than​ ​20%​ ​of​ ​residents​ ​in​ ​poverty  or​ ​more​ ​fruits​ ​& 
and​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​grocery​ ​store​ ​within​ ​a  22
vegetables​ ​a​ ​day  
one-mile​ ​radius​ ​are​ ​given​ ​the​ ​“food 
desert”​ ​label.​ ​However,​ ​the​ ​increase​ ​in   

“food​ ​desert”​ ​areas​ ​didn’t​ ​account​ ​for  While​ ​the​ ​“food​ ​desert”​ ​data​ ​is​ ​flawed,​ ​it 
the​ ​opening​ ​of​ ​a​ ​2nd​ ​Meijer​ ​store​ ​on  is​ ​the​ ​standard​ ​by​ ​which​ ​the​ ​Federal 
Grand​ ​River​ ​Ave.​ ​or​ ​the​ ​reopening​ ​of  government​ ​and,​ ​specifically,​ ​the​ ​USDA 
Parkway​ ​Foods​ ​on​ ​E.​ ​Jefferson​ ​Ave.   issues​ ​funding​ ​and​ ​incentives​ ​for​ ​various 
food​ ​programs​ ​and​ ​policies.  
19
​ ​Pothukuchi,​ ​Kami,​ ​and​ ​Brian​ ​Thomas.​ ​"Food​ ​deserts​ ​and 
access​ ​to​ ​retail​ ​grocery​ ​in​ ​inner​ ​cities."​ ​Community​ ​New​ ​&   
Views​ ​17,​ ​no.​ ​1​ ​(2004):​ ​6-7. 
20
​ ​Healthy​ ​Food​ ​Financing​ ​Initiative. 
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/community-economic-
22​ ​
development/healthy-food-financing  Fussman,​ ​Chris.​ ​2013-2015​ ​Michigan​ ​BRFS​ ​Regional​ ​&​ ​Local 
21
​ ​New​ ​Market​ ​Tax​ ​Credits.  Health​ ​Department​ ​Estimates.​ ​MDHHS​ ​(2016). 
https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training/Programs/new-m http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdhhs/2013-2015_MiBR
arkets-tax-credit/Pages/default.aspx  FSS_Reg__LHD_Tables_9.16.16_535671_7.pdf 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  12  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

     

     

 
 
 
The​ ​USDA’s​ ​2015​ ​“food​ ​desert” 
  designated​ ​areas​ ​are​ ​based​ ​on​ ​national 
retail​ ​databases​ ​that​ ​have​ ​been​ ​shown 
  to​ ​undercount​ ​Detroit​ ​assets.23  
 
Looking​ ​at​ ​areas​ ​of​ ​green​ ​and​ ​orange 
  that​ ​overlap​ ​in​ ​the​ ​map​ ​to​ ​the​ ​left 
highlights​ ​the​ ​mismatch​ ​in​ ​federal​ ​food 
  policy​ ​in​ ​Detroit’s​ ​city​ ​context.  
  These​ ​maps​ ​only​ ​look​ ​to​ ​assessments 
  within​ ​Detroit’s​ ​city​ ​limits.​ ​Many​ ​border 
 
areas​ ​of​ ​Detroit​ ​are​ ​served​ ​by​ ​grocers​ ​in 
 
  nearby​ ​cities.  
 
   
 
 
   23
​ ​Gomez-Lopez,​ ​Iris​ ​N.,​ ​Philippa​ ​Clarke,​ ​Alex​ ​B.​ ​Hill,​ ​Daniel​ ​M. 
 
Romero,​ ​Robert​ ​Goodspeed,​ ​Veronica​ ​J.​ ​Berrocal,​ ​VG​ ​Vinod 
  Vydiswaran,​ ​and​ ​Tiffany​ ​C.​ ​Veinot.​ ​"Using​ ​Social​ ​Media​ ​to 
  Identify​ ​Sources​ ​of​ ​Healthy​ ​Food​ ​in​ ​Urban​ ​Neighborhoods." 
Journal​ ​of​ ​Urban​ ​Health​ ​(2017):​ ​1-8. 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  13  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____   
 
FOOD​ ​RETAILERS    
 
Detroit​ ​has​ ​had​ ​a​ ​robust​ ​food​ ​business 
 
scene​ ​throughout​ ​its​ ​over​ ​300-year-long 
 
history.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​frontier​ ​town​ ​and​ ​later​ ​the 
 
4th​ ​largest​ ​city​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States, 
 
Detroit​ ​was​ ​never​ ​short​ ​on​ ​people 
 
growing,​ ​making,​ ​and​ ​selling​ ​food​ ​in​ ​the 
 
city.  
 
 
 
Today​ ​Detroit​ ​food​ ​retail​ ​is​ ​dominated​ ​by 
 
independently​ ​owned​ ​grocery​ ​stores 
 
throughout​ ​the​ ​city’s​ ​neighborhoods​ ​that 
 
serve​ ​as​ ​community​ ​anchors​ ​for​ ​food 
 
access.​ ​However,​ ​food​ ​is​ ​available​ ​and 
 
purchased​ ​at​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​secondary 
 
locations​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city​ ​including   
convenience​ ​stores​ ​and​ ​dollar​ ​stores.24  
 

1,221 
2017​ ​NUMBERS 
 

Full-line​ ​grocery​ ​stores​:​ ​74 

 

Convenience​ ​stores​:​ ​49 

SNAP​ ​Retailers25 
 

Dollar​ ​stores​:​ ​73 

 

 
 
 
24
​ ​Hill,​ ​Alex​ ​B.​ ​“‘Treat​ ​everybody​ ​right:’​ ​Multidimensional    25
​ ​USDA​ ​Food​ ​and​ ​Nutrition​ ​Service. 
Foodways​ ​in​ ​Detroit."​ ​Wayne​ ​State​ ​University,​ ​(2016).  https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap-retailer-data 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  14  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____   
 
FARMERS​ ​MARKETS   
 
Efforts​ ​to​ ​address​ ​transportation-related 
 
access​ ​issues​ ​to​ ​fresh​ ​produce​ ​in​ ​Detroit 
 
have​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​farmers​ ​markets​ ​and 
 
similar​ ​programs,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Eastern 
 
Market’s​ ​Farm​ ​Stands​ ​and​ ​Fresh​ ​Corner 
 
Cafe’s​ ​Pop-up​ ​Farmers​ ​Markets.  
 
 
Many​ ​local​ ​nonprofits,​ ​health​ ​systems, 
 
and​ ​corporations​ ​host​ ​Farm​ ​Stand​ ​and 
 
Pop-Up​ ​Markets​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​increase 
 
access​ ​to​ ​fresh​ ​produce​ ​for​ ​their 
 
residents,​ ​patients,​ ​employees​ ​and 
 
students.  
 
Five​ ​health​ ​care​ ​sites​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city​ ​host​ ​a   
   
“​Fresh​ ​Prescription​”​ ​program​ ​where 
participants​ ​are​ ​prescribed​ ​fruits​ ​and    ____ 
vegetables​ ​that​ ​they​ ​can​ ​pick​ ​up​ ​at   
Farmers​ ​Markets​ ​and​ ​Eastern​ ​Market  2017​ ​NUMBERS  TRANSPORTATION 
Farm​ ​Stand​ ​locations.    
The​ ​distance​ ​to​ ​food​ ​retailers​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most 
Farmers​ ​Markets​:​ ​8 
 
common​ ​measure​ ​of​ ​food​ ​access,​ ​but 
  Eastern​ ​Market​ ​Farm​ ​Stands​:​ ​9*  community​ ​leaders​ ​often​ ​cite​ ​issues​ ​of 
  *additional​ ​to​ ​Farmers​ ​Markets​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​double​ ​counting  economics​ ​and​ ​transportation​ ​as​ ​most 
Fresh​ ​Corner​ ​Cafe​ ​-​ ​Pop-up​ ​Markets​:​ ​15  relevant​ ​to​ ​overall​ ​food​ ​access.26  
 
 
   
    26
​ ​Hill,​ ​Alex​ ​B.​ ​"Critical​ ​inquiry​ ​into​ ​Detroit's​ ​“food​ ​desert” 
metaphor."​ ​Food​ ​and​ ​Foodways​ ​(2017):​ ​1-19. 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  15  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

FOOD​ ​TO​ ​PEOPLE   Eastern​ ​Market​ ​and​ ​local​ ​grocery​ ​stores   

for​ ​their​ ​17​ ​member​ ​congregations.  
Peaches​ ​and​ ​Greens​​ ​gained​ ​national 
attention​ ​with​ ​their​ ​mobile​ ​produce​ ​truck  Local​ ​grocers​ ​have​ ​also​ ​been​ ​offering 
focused​ ​in​ ​the​ ​48202​ ​zip​ ​code.​ ​The  transportation​ ​as​ ​an​ ​incentive.​ ​Prince 
mobile​ ​truck​ ​is​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​active,​ ​but  Valley​ ​Market​ ​has​ ​offered​ ​free​ ​rides 
Peaches​ ​and​ ​Greens​ ​runs​ ​a​ ​produce  within​ ​a​ ​small​ ​service​ ​area,​ ​Indian 
storefront​ ​with​ ​commercial​ ​kitchen​ ​space  Village​ ​Market​ ​at​ ​one​ ​point​ ​offered​ ​free 
for​ ​food​ ​entrepreneurs.​ ​Similarly,  rides​ ​if​ ​a​ ​resident​ ​purchased​ ​groceries 
UpSouth​ ​Food​ ​Truck​​ ​on​ ​the​ ​city’s  there,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​2013​ ​Meijer​ ​partnered​ ​with 
Eastside​ ​was​ ​unable​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​its  the​ ​CARt​​ ​pilot​ ​program,​ ​but​ ​found 
routes.​ ​Fresh​ ​Corner​ ​Cafe​​ ​has​ ​flipped​ ​its  technology​ ​and​ ​scheduling​ ​to​ ​be​ ​barriers 
focus​ ​from​ ​prepared​ ​food​ ​in​ ​corner  with​ ​senior​ ​residents.​ ​Since​ ​2011, 
stores​ ​to​ ​farmers​ ​market​ ​pop-ups​ ​at  Walmart​ ​has​ ​been​ ​running​ ​a​ ​free​ ​shuttle 
community​ ​sites​ ​and​ ​schools.​ ​Gleaners  bus​ ​that​ ​picks​ ​up​ ​from​ ​all​ ​the​ ​senior​ ​and 
and​ ​partners​ ​recently​ ​launched​ ​My  low-income​ ​housing​ ​complexes. 
Mobile​ ​Grocer​,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​mobile 
grocery​ ​store​ ​that​ ​targets​ ​residential  In​ ​2016,​ ​Detroit’s​ ​Department​ ​of 
complexes​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city​ ​and​ ​specifically  Transportation​​ ​(DDOT)​ ​launched​ ​Fresh 
areas​ ​where​ ​mobility​ ​is​ ​limited.   Wagon​​ ​express​ ​routes​ ​to​ ​Eastern 
Markets​ ​on​ ​Saturdays,​ ​but​ ​have​ ​had 
PEOPLE​ ​TO​ ​FOOD   difficulty​ ​with​ ​ridership.   

Communities​ ​have​ ​been​ ​shuttling​ ​friends  This​ ​past​ ​year​ ​in​ ​2017,​ ​the​ ​Detroit 
and​ ​neighbors​ ​to​ ​food​ ​and​ ​grocery  Community​ ​Markets​​ ​started​ ​a​ ​free 
stores​ ​for​ ​years.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most  shuttle​ ​program​ ​between​ ​their​ ​partner 
successful​ ​programs​ ​was​ ​run​ ​by  community​ ​markets​ ​and​ ​senior 
Riverfront​ ​Eastside​ ​Congregations  apartments,​ ​WIC​ ​offices,​ ​and​ ​churches.    
Initiative​ ​(RECI)​ ​which​ ​funded​ ​shuttles​ ​to  Mural​ ​installation​ ​along​ ​E.​ ​Jefferson​ ​Ave. 
   
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  16  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  17  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____  However,​ ​assistance​ ​programs​ ​like 

​ ​3. 
SNAP​ ​have​ ​been​ ​shown​ ​to​ ​have​ ​the 
FOOD​ ​SECURITY  greatest​ ​impact​ ​on​ ​food​ ​security​ ​and 
food​ ​access.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​estimated​ ​that​ ​among 
".​ ​.​ ​.​ ​exists​ ​when​ ​all​ ​people,​ ​at​ ​all  food-insecure​ ​households​ ​almost​ ​60% 
times,​ ​have​ ​physical​ ​and  utilize​ ​national​ ​food​ ​assistance​ ​programs 
Addressing  economic​ ​access​ ​to​ ​sufficient,  like​ ​SNAP,​ ​WIC,​ ​and/or​ ​the​ ​National 
safe​ ​and​ ​nutritious​ ​food​ ​to​ ​meet  School​ ​Lunch​ ​Program.28  
Emergency  their​ ​dietary​ ​needs​ ​and​ ​food 
preferences​ ​for​ ​an​ ​active​ ​and 
Food​ ​&​ ​Food 

48​% 
healthy​ ​life."27 

Security    In​ ​Detroit,​ ​the​ ​emergency​ ​food 

landscape​ ​is​ ​dominated​ ​by​ ​two​ ​large 
nonprofits:​ ​Gleaners​ ​Community​ ​Food 
Bank​​ ​and​ ​Forgotten​ ​Harvest​.​ ​The​ ​two 
organizations​ ​have​ ​recently​ ​forged 
stronger​ ​collaborations​ ​through​ ​data  of​ ​households​ ​are​ ​food 
tracking​ ​and​ ​coordination​ ​of​ ​food  insecure​ ​in​ ​Detroit29 
distributions​ ​to​ ​better​ ​serve​ ​community   
needs.   2017​ ​NUMBERS 
 

Food​ ​security​ ​can​ ​take​ ​many​ ​forms.  Emergency​ ​food​ ​providers​:​ ​2 
 
Supplemental​ ​food​ ​from​ ​backyard  Food​ ​pantries​:​ ​113 
gardening​ ​can​ ​play​ ​an​ ​important​ ​role​ ​in 
access​ ​to​ ​healthy,​ ​local​ ​food​ ​security. 
28
​ ​Feeding​ ​America.​ ​Poverty​ ​and​ ​Hunger​ ​Fact​ ​Sheet​ ​(May 
27​ ​
2017). 
Food​ ​and​ ​Agriculture​ ​Organization​ ​(FAO)​ ​“Rome  http://www.feedingamerica.org/assets/pdfs/fact-sheets/povert
Declaration​ ​on​ ​Food​ ​Security​ ​and​ ​World​ ​Food​ ​Summit​ ​Plan​ ​of  y-and-hunger-fact-sheet.pdf 
29
Action”​ ​(November​ ​1996).  ​ ​Allard,​ ​Scott​ ​W.,​ ​Maria​ ​V.​ ​Wathen,​ ​H.​ ​Luke​ ​Shaefer,​ ​and 
http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/w3613e/w3613e00.htm  Sandra​ ​K.​ ​Danziger.​ ​"Neighborhood​ ​Food​ ​Infrastructure​ ​and 
Food​ ​Security​ ​in​ ​Metropolitan​ ​Detroit."​ ​Journal​ ​of​ ​Consumer 
Affairs​ ​(2017). 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  18  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

     

     

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  19  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

    Forgotten​ ​Harvest,​ ​in​ ​collaboration​ ​with 

Feeding​ ​America​ ​and​ ​Data​ ​Driven 
  Detroit,​ ​worked​ ​on​ ​developing​ ​a​ ​more 
locally​ ​relevant​ ​food​ ​insecurity​ ​index. 
  The​ ​index​ ​measures​ ​six​ ​data​ ​points​ ​from 
the​ ​Census​ ​Bureau​ ​ACS​ ​2014​ ​5-year 
  estimates.  

 
FOOD​ ​INSECURITY​ ​INDEX 
  MEASURES* 

  Households​ ​spending​ ​more​ ​than​ ​30% 

of​ ​monthly​ ​income​ ​on​ ​housing 
  Residents​ ​who​ ​moved​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past​ ​year 
with​ ​an​ ​annual​ ​income​ ​less​ ​than 
  $25,000 

  Households​ ​with​ ​no​ ​vehicle​ ​available 

Residents​ ​age​ ​25+​ ​without​ ​a​ ​high 

  school​ ​diploma 

  Percent​ ​of​ ​children​ ​with​ ​a​ ​single​ ​parent  

 
Census​ ​tracts​ ​over​ ​¼​ ​mile​ ​away​ ​from​ ​a 
    DDOT​ ​bus​ ​stop  
*Developed​ ​in​ ​partnership​ ​with​ ​Feeding​ ​America’s 
    “Map​ ​the​ ​Meal​ ​Gap”​ ​research​ ​team​ ​and​ ​Data​ ​Driven 
Detroit 

   
 
   

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  20  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  21   

DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   

   

Detroit​ ​was​ ​first​ ​declared​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in​ ​a 

 
hunger​ ​crisis​ ​in​ ​1975​ ​after​ ​City​ ​Council 
raised​ ​issues​ ​with​ ​how​ ​the​ ​Food​ ​Stamp 
  (now​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​as​ ​SNAP)​ ​program 
made​ ​it​ ​difficult​ ​for​ ​individuals​ ​to​ ​apply, 
  had​ ​inadequate​ ​approved​ ​retailers,​ ​and 
very​ ​limited​ ​distribution​ ​of​ ​funds.31  
  In​ ​Detroit,​ ​43%​​ ​of​ ​all​ ​households​ ​rely​ ​on 
SNAP​ ​to​ ​put​ ​food​ ​on​ ​the​ ​table.32​ ​There​ ​is 
  a​ ​significant​ ​need​ ​for​ ​improving 
Detroiters’​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​access 
  healthy​ ​food.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​United​ ​Way​ ​“Asset 
Limited,​ ​Income​ ​Constrained,​ ​Employed” 
  (ALICE)​ ​report,​ ​food​ ​costs​ ​were​ ​found​ ​to 
account​ ​for​ ​30%​ ​of​ ​an​ ​ALICE 
 
household’s​ ​income​ ​in​ ​Wayne​ ​County.33 

  There​ ​were​ ​225,580​​ ​households​ ​in 

Detroit​ ​that​ ​fell​ ​below​ ​the​ ​ALICE​ ​income 

48​% 
Many​ ​families​ ​utilize​ ​WIC​ ​for  threshold​ ​in​ ​2015​ ​identifying​ ​an​ ​unfilled 
supplemental​ ​food​ ​during​ ​pregnancy  gap​ ​in​ ​what​ ​households​ ​bring​ ​in​ ​and 
and​ ​after​ ​their​ ​child​ ​is​ ​born​ ​until​ ​they  what​ ​households​ ​need,​ ​specifically​ ​for 
reach​ ​age​ ​5.​ ​However,​ ​many  housing,​ ​food,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​necessities. 
WIC-certified​ ​stores​ ​in​ ​Detroit​ ​do​ ​not 
carry​ ​adequate​ ​foods​ ​for​ ​purchase,​ ​with 
nearly​ ​half​ ​of​ ​stores​ ​serving​ ​as​ ​liquor  31
​ ​Michigan.​ ​Legislature.​ ​House​ ​of​ ​Representatives. 
stores.  Committee​ ​on​ ​Public​ ​Health.​ ​Health​ ​Project​ ​on​ ​Hunger​ ​and 
of​ ​WIC​ ​stores​ ​are​ ​liquor  Malnutrition.,​ ​A​ ​matter​ ​of​ ​justice:​ ​a​ ​report​ ​on​ ​hunger​ ​and 
malnutrition,​ ​State​ ​of​ ​Michigan.​ ​[Lansing,​ ​Mich.]:​ ​Citizens' 
  stores30  Conference​ ​on​ ​State​ ​Legislatures​ ​(1975). 
32
​ ​Census​ ​Bureau,​ ​ACS​ ​2015​ ​5-year​ ​estimates.  
33
  ​ ​United​ ​Way,​ ​Asset​ ​Limited,​ ​Income​ ​Constrained,​ ​Employed 
(ALICE)​ ​report​ ​(2017​ ​update). 
30
​ ​Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Map​ ​Initiative​ ​(2017).  http://www.unitedwayalice.org/documents/16UW%20ALICE%
http://detroitfoodmap.com  20Report_MIUpdate_3.24.17_Lowres.pdf 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  22  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  23  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____  ENVIRONMENTAL 

​ ​4. 
SUSTAINABILITY 
GOOD​ ​FOOD​ ​PURCHASING 
Support​ ​sustainable​ ​production​ ​practices 
The​ ​food​ ​economy​ ​doesn’t​ ​work​ ​without  that​ ​reduce​ ​or​ ​eliminate​ ​synthetic 
the​ ​purchase​ ​and​ ​procurement​ ​of​ ​foods.  pesticides​ ​and​ ​fertilizers​ ​and​ ​avoid 
There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​different​ ​entities  genetic​ ​engineering​ ​in​ ​agriculture,​ ​avoid 
Supporting  involved​ ​including​ ​food​ ​producers,  the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​hormones​ ​and​ ​antibiotics, 
processors,​ ​distributors,​ ​and​ ​retailers.  conserve​ ​soil​ ​and​ ​water,​ ​protect​ ​and 
Sustainable  The​​ ​goal​ ​of​ ​Good​ ​Food​ ​Purchasing​ ​is​ ​to 
create​ ​a​ ​transparent​ ​and​ ​equitable​ ​food 
enhance​ ​wildlife​ ​habitats​ ​and 
biodiversity,​ ​and​ ​reduce​ ​on-farm​ ​energy 
Food  system​ ​built​ ​on​ ​five​ ​core​ ​values:  and​ ​water​ ​consumption,​ ​food​ ​waste,​ ​and 
greenhouse​ ​gas​ ​emissions.   
LOCAL​ ​ECONOMIES 
Purchasing​ ​&  Support​ ​robust​ ​regional​ ​economies​ ​by 
ANIMAL​ ​WELFARE 

Production  sourcing​ ​from​ ​locally-owned​ ​small​ ​and 

mid-sized​ ​agricultural​ ​and​ ​food 
Provide​ ​healthy​ ​and​ ​humane​ ​care​ ​for 
farm​ ​animals.  
processing​ ​operations.  

5​% 
NUTRITION 
Promote​ ​health​ ​and​ ​well-being​ ​by 
offering​ ​generous​ ​portions​ ​of 
vegetables,​ ​fruit,​ ​whole​ ​grains,​ ​and 
minimally​ ​processed​ ​foods,​ ​while 
reducing​ ​salt,​ ​added​ ​sugars,​ ​saturated 
fats,​ ​red​ ​meats,​ ​and​ ​artificial​ ​additives.  
of​ ​foods​ ​procured  
VALUED​ ​WORKFORCE 
locally​ ​in​ ​Detroit​ ​among 
Provide​ ​safe​ ​and​ ​healthy​ ​working  anchor​ ​institutions34  
conditions​ ​and​ ​fair​ ​compensation​ ​for​ ​all 
food-sector​ ​workers​ ​and​ ​producers​ ​from 
production​ ​to​ ​consumption.  
34
​ ​Economic​ ​Analysis​ ​of​ ​Detroit’s​ ​Food​ ​Economy.​ ​Detroit​ ​Food 
and​ ​Fitness​ ​Collaborative.​ ​(2014).  
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  24  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____     
FOOD​ ​PROCUREMENT   
A​ ​large​ ​part​ ​of​ ​following​ ​Good​ ​Food 
Purchasing​ ​standards​ ​is​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure   
that​ ​nutritious​ ​foods​ ​are​ ​being​ ​sourced 
and​ ​produced​ ​locally.    
The​ ​Detroit​ ​Public​ ​Schools​ ​Community   
District​ ​(DPSCD)​ ​has​ ​been​ ​working​ ​to 
source​ ​over​ ​20%​ ​of​ ​their​ ​food​ ​locally​ ​and 
to​ ​grow​ ​a​ ​considerable​ ​amount​ ​at​ ​Drew   
Farm. 
 
Beyond​ ​the​ ​schools,​ ​summer​ ​food 
programs​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​largest   
purchasers​ ​of​ ​food.​ ​The​ ​United​ ​Way​ ​of 
Southeastern​ ​Michigan​ ​(UWSEM)​ ​has 
managed​​ ​Meet​ ​Up​ ​and​ ​Eat​ ​Up​ ​for​ ​a 
 
number​ ​of​ ​years​ ​and​ ​now​ ​assists 
partners​ ​like​ ​the​ ​Detroit​ ​Parks​ ​and   
Recreation​ ​Department​ ​(DPRD)​ ​with 
improving​ ​their​ ​summer​ ​food   
procurement​ ​efforts​ ​with​ ​local​ ​food 
businesses.      
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  25  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____  grown​ ​by​ ​Detroiters​ ​at​ ​$1.5​ ​million​​ ​per 

season.35​ ​Growers​ ​who​ ​participate​ ​in 
URBAN​ ​AGRICULTURE  their​ ​Grown​ ​in​ ​Detroit​ ​program,​ ​which 
allows​ ​gardeners​ ​and​ ​youth​ ​growers​ ​to 
Detroit​ ​is​ ​a​ ​city​ ​built​ ​on​ ​agriculture.  sell​ ​their​ ​produce​ ​at​ ​market​ ​and​ ​share 
Indigenous​ ​Anishinabeg​ ​utilized​ ​Detroit  the​ ​profits,​ ​earn​ ​an​ ​average​ ​of​ ​$900​ ​per 
as​ ​a​ ​natural​ ​gathering​ ​place​ ​between  season​ ​from​ ​their​ ​efforts. 
Lake​ ​Huron,​ ​Lake​ ​Erie,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​handful​ ​of 
rivers​ ​and​ ​streams.​ ​The​ ​rich​ ​river​ ​soil  MARKET​ ​GARDENS 
made​ ​it​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​crops,​ ​hunt​ ​small 
There​ ​are​ ​approximately​ ​92​ ​market 
game​ ​animals,​ ​and​ ​conduct​ ​trade.​ ​The 
gardens​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city​ ​of​ ​Detroit.​ ​Market 
French​ ​settlers​ ​of​ ​the​ ​1760s​ ​were​ ​lured 
garden​ ​are​ ​not​ ​defined​ ​in​ ​the​ ​urban 
to​ ​occupy​ ​the​ ​“new​ ​world”​ ​based​ ​on 
agriculture​ ​ordinance​ ​but​ ​are​ ​typically 
promises​ ​of​ ​free​ ​farm​ ​land.​ ​Detroit’s 
larger​ ​than​ ​a​ ​household​ ​garden,​ ​but 
early​ ​settler​ ​families​ ​had​ ​great​ ​success 
smaller​ ​than​ ​a​ ​full-scale​ ​farm.​ ​They​ ​are 
from​ ​farming​ ​the​ ​land​ ​and,​ ​eventually, 
typically​ ​densely​ ​planted,​ ​maximizing​ ​the 
making​ ​profit​ ​by​ ​breaking​ ​up​ ​and​ ​selling 
amount​ ​of​ ​food​ ​that​ ​can​ ​be​ ​grown​ ​in​ ​a 
their​ ​land​ ​in​ ​smaller​ ​pieces. 
specific​ ​space.​ ​Market​ ​gardens​ ​are 
typically​ ​created​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​food​ ​for​ ​sale​ ​to 
The​ ​urban​ ​agriculture​ ​movement​ ​has 
farmers​ ​markets​ ​and​ ​other 
long​ ​been​ ​used​ ​by​ ​Detroiters​ ​to​ ​improve 
community-based​ ​sales.  
their​ ​community​ ​food​ ​security,​ ​from​ ​200 
acres​ ​of​ ​Pingree​ ​Potato​ ​Patches​​ ​in​ ​the  2017​ ​NUMBERS 
1890s,​ ​6,600​ ​Thrift​ ​Gardens​​ ​in​ ​the   
1930s,​ ​to​ ​3,300​ ​vacant​ ​lots​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the  Backyard​ ​gardens​:​ ​834* 
Farm-A-Lot​​ ​program​ ​started​ ​by​ ​Mayor  *Only​ ​KGD​ ​members​ ​are​ ​tracked 
Coleman​ ​A.​ ​Young​ ​in​ ​the​ ​1970s.  Community​ ​gardens​:​ ​432 
 
Today​ ​there​ ​are​ ​4 32​ ​community  Market​ ​gardens​:​ ​92 
gardens​ ​under​ ​cultivation​ ​in​ ​Detroit,​ ​and   

around​ ​5%​​ ​of​ ​the​ ​food​ ​eaten​ ​in​ ​Detroit​ ​is  School​ ​gardens​:​ ​76 
produced​ ​by​ ​Detroiters.​ ​In​ ​2013,​ ​the   

Urban​ ​Agriculture​ ​Ordinance​​ ​passed   

and​ ​opened​ ​a​ ​legal​ ​pathway​ ​for​ ​farms 
Students​ ​in​ ​a​ ​hoop​ ​house​ ​at​ ​Drew​ ​Farm.   and​ ​gardens.​ ​Keep​ ​Growing​ ​Detroit  35
​ ​Keep​ ​Growing​ ​Detroit,​ ​2016​ ​Annual​ ​Report​ ​(2016). 
http://detroitagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2016_KGD_A
estimates​ ​the​ ​market​ ​value​ ​of​ ​produce  nnual-Report_Share_11.13.16.pdf 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  26  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
     
     
 
 

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____  returning​ ​citizens,​ ​people​ ​in​ ​recovery,​ ​or  Detroit​ ​and​ ​nearby​ ​communities.​ ​The 
those​ ​facing​ ​other​ ​barriers​ ​to  participating​ ​farms​ ​range​ ​in​ ​size​ ​and 
URBAN​ ​FARMING  employment.​ ​They​ ​work​ ​on​ ​the​ ​farm,  production,​ ​but​ ​all​ ​farms​ ​commit​ ​to​ ​safe 
earning​ ​livable​ ​wages,​ ​and​ ​also​ ​receive  and​ ​sustainable​ ​practices,​ ​including​ ​no 
As​ ​urban​ ​agriculture​ ​becomes​ ​a​ ​more 
wraparound​ ​services​ ​to​ ​help​ ​them​ ​get​ ​on  synthetic​ ​fertilizers​ ​or​ ​pesticides,​ ​and​ ​soil 
prominent​ ​component​ ​of​ ​the​ ​city’s 
a​ ​path​ ​to​ ​a​ ​more​ ​stable​ ​life.  testing​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​safety​ ​and​ ​quality​ ​of 
landscape,​ ​large-scale​ ​projects​ ​are 
  produce.​ ​Participating​ ​farms​ ​include: 
coming​ ​online.    
Drew​ ​Farm​​ ​(DPSCD)​ ​is​ ​a​ ​6-acre​ ​farm, 
  ● Fields​ ​of​ ​Plenty 
along​ ​with​ ​six​ ​hoop​ ​houses​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Drew 
LARGE-SCALE  Transition​ ​Center​ ​in​ ​Detroit​ ​Public  ● Buffalo​ ​Street​ ​Farm 
  Schools.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​considered​ ​the​ ​largest 
D-Town​ ​Farms​​ ​on​ ​the​ ​city’s​ ​west​ ​side  ● Singing​ ​Tree​ ​Garden 
school-based​ ​farm​ ​in​ ​the​ ​US.​ ​The 
farms​ ​7​ ​acres,​ ​under​ ​a​ ​long-term​ ​lease  thousands​ ​of​ ​pounds​ ​of​ ​produce​ ​grown  ● Food​ ​Field 
from​ ​the​ ​city’s​ ​Parks​ ​and​ ​Recreation  at​ ​the​ ​farm​ ​are​ ​used​ ​in​ ​the​ ​district’s  ● Iroquois​ ​Avenue​ ​Farm 
Department.​ ​In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​growing​ ​food  nationally​ ​renowned​ ​school​ ​lunch 
for​ ​the​ ​community,​ ​D-Town​ ​Farms​ ​serves  ● Occupy​ ​Yourself 
program;​ ​it​ ​also​ ​helps​ ​produce​ ​starter 
as​ ​an​ ​educational​ ​resource​ ​for​ ​people​ ​all  plants​ ​for​ ​the​ ​district’s​ ​School​ ​Garden  ● Diamante​ ​Garden 
over​ ​the​ ​world​ ​who​ ​come​ ​to​ ​Detroit​ ​to  Collaborative​​ ​program.​ ​Students​ ​at  ● Detroit​ ​Farm​ ​and​ ​Garden 
learn​ ​about​ ​community​ ​food​ ​security,  Drew​ ​have​ ​cognitive​ ​or​ ​physical 
sustainable​ ​growing,​ ​irrigation  ● Oakland​ ​Avenue​ ​Urban​ ​Farm 
disabilities​ ​–​ ​the​ ​work​ ​at​ ​the​ ​farm​ ​helps 
techniques,​ ​and​ ​more.  them​ ​learn​ ​job​ ​skills​ ​while​ ​contributing​ ​to   
  the​ ​community.  OTHER 
Recovery​ ​Park​,​ ​a​ ​new​ ​nonprofit,​ ​takes​ ​a     

different​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​the​ ​more​ ​typically  ● Earthworks​ ​Urban​ ​Farm  

COMMUNITY​ ​SUPPORTED 
community-focused​ ​agriculture​ ​in  ● Brother​ ​Nature​ ​Produce 
Detroit.​ ​The​ ​farm​ ​grows​ ​about​ ​10​ ​acres 
AGRICULTURE​ ​(CSA) 
  ● Fisheye​ ​Farms 
of​ ​premium​ ​vegetables​ ​under​ ​high-tech 
hoop-houses​ ​which​ ​are​ ​then​ ​sold​ ​to  City​ ​Commons36​ ​is​ ​a​ ​cooperative​ ​of  ● Rising​ ​Pheasant​ ​Farms 
high-end​ ​restaurants​ ​around​ ​the​ ​city.  participating​ ​farms​ ​in​ ​Detroit.​ ​Their​ ​CSA 
● Feedom-Freedom​ ​Growers 
The​ ​proceeds​ ​from​ ​the​ ​farm​ ​work  serves​ ​between​ ​60-100​ ​households​ ​in 
● Michigan​ ​Urban​ ​Farming​ ​Initiative 
are​ ​rolled​ ​into​ ​a​ ​nonprofit​ ​which​ ​helps  36
​ ​City​ ​Commons,​ ​http://www.citycommonscsa.com/ 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  28  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 

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____  regional​ ​impact​ ​of​ ​Detroit’s​ ​food​ ​system 

​ ​5. 
is​ ​best​ ​measured​ ​within​ ​the​ ​Tri-County 
FOOD​ ​ECONOMY  area​ ​(Wayne,​ ​Oakland,​ ​Macomb),​ ​but 
annual​ ​data​ ​is​ ​unavailable.  
The​ ​leading​ ​industries​ ​and​ ​jobs​ ​in 
Detroit’s​ ​food​ ​economy​ ​reside​ ​within​ ​the 
Wayne​ ​County​​ ​has​ ​seen​ ​Food 
Fostering  fast​ ​food​ ​industry,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​soft​ ​drink 
manufacturing,​ ​and​ ​snack​ ​food 
Preparation​ ​and​ ​Serving​ ​Occupations 
remained​ ​steady​ ​with​ ​fluctuations​ ​of 
Opportunity​ ​&  manufacturing.37​ ​The​ ​2014​ ​Economic 
Analysis​ ​of​ ​Detroit’s​ ​Food​ ​System​​ ​found 
between​ ​59,900​ ​-​ ​61,500​ ​jobs​ ​each​ ​year 
with​ ​a​ ​meager​ ​1%​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​wages 
Economic  that​ ​Food​ ​Service​ ​Industries​ ​grew​ ​by 
6.7%​ ​between​ ​2002​ ​and​ ​2012,​ ​while 
between​ ​2012​ ​and​ ​2016.   

Mobility​ ​with  there​ ​was​ ​an​ ​overall​ ​11%​ ​decline​ ​in​ ​food 
industry​ ​jobs.38  
 

Food  In​ ​2012,​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​Census​ ​Bureau 

conducted​ ​an​ ​“​Economic​ ​Census​”​ ​of 

$350​M  
industry​ ​and​ ​occupation​ ​sectors​ ​for​ ​the 
North​ ​American​ ​Industry​ ​Classification 
System​ ​(NAICS)​ ​at​ ​the​ ​city​ ​level.​ ​The 
latest​ ​economic​ ​census​ ​began​ ​in​ ​2017, 
but​ ​results​ ​won’t​ ​be​ ​available​ ​until​ ​2019.    SNAP​ ​redemption​ ​in 
This​ ​section​ ​will​ ​rely​ ​on​ ​“​Occupational 
Detroit40 
Employment​ ​Statistics​”​ ​annual​ ​data​ ​for 
the​ ​Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia   
Metropolitan​ ​Division,​ ​which 
encompasses​ ​Wayne​ ​County.39​ ​The 
37
​ ​U.S.​ ​Census​ ​Bureau.​ ​Economic​ ​Census​ ​(2012).  
38
​ ​Economic​ ​Analysis​ ​of​ ​Detroit’s​ ​Food​ ​Economy.​ ​Detroit​ ​Food 
and​ ​Fitness​ ​Collaborative.​ ​(2014).  
39
​ ​U.S.​ ​Bureau​ ​of​ ​Labor​ ​Statistics,​ ​Occupational​ ​Employment 
40
Statistics​ ​(2016).  ​ ​USDA​ ​Food​ ​and​ ​Nutrition​ ​Service​ ​(2016).   
 

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Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  31  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

  ____ 
FOOD​ ​PROCESSING​ ​& 
OPPORTUNITY​ ​&​ ​MOBILITY 
MANUFACTURING 
  The​ ​distinction​ ​of​ ​a​ ​“food​ ​desert”​ ​reflects 
the​ ​reality​ ​of​ ​an​ ​“​opportunity​ ​desert​” 
Detroit​: 
which​ ​shows​ ​itself​ ​in​ ​poor​ ​access​ ​to 
● Faygo  food,​ ​transportation,​ ​education,​ ​and​ ​jobs. 
● PepsiCo  Increasingly,​ ​research​ ​has​ ​demonstrated 
that​ ​gaps​ ​in​ ​access​ ​to​ ​goods​ ​and 
● Coca-Cola 
services​ ​follow​ ​gaps​ ​in​ ​employment, 
● Better​ ​Made​ ​Snacks  wages,​ ​and​ ​overall​ ​opportunity.  
● Bays​ ​English​ ​Muffins 
Detroit​ ​has​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​number​ ​of​ ​per 
● La​ ​Michoacana​ ​Tortilla​ ​Factory 
capita​ ​African-American​ ​owned 
● Wolverine​ ​Packing​ ​Company  businesses​ ​in​ ​the​ ​country,​ ​yet​ ​the 
● Wigley’s​ ​Corned​ ​Beef  majority​ ​are​ ​sole-proprietor​ ​or 
single-employee​ ​businesses.41​ ​The 
● McClure’s​ ​Pickles 
absence​ ​of​ ​minority​ ​businesses​ ​that​ ​are 
● La​ ​Jalisciense​ ​Tortilla​ ​Factory  able​ ​to​ ​expand​ ​demonstrates​ ​a​ ​need​ ​for 
● Germack​ ​Pistachio​ ​Co.  more​ ​targeted​ ​engagement.  

● Friend’s​ ​Potato​ ​Chips 

There​ ​are​ ​numerous​ ​training​ ​programs, 
● Hacienda​ ​Foods  startup​ ​incubators,​ ​and​ ​funding​ ​and​ ​loan 
Hamtramck​:  initiatives​ ​to​ ​help​ ​more​ ​local​ ​businesses 
launch,​ ​grow,​ ​and​ ​sustain.​ ​Over​ ​200 
● Korda’s/Metropolitan​ ​Baking​ ​Co.  small​ ​food​ ​businesses​ ​have​ ​participated 
● Kowalski​ ​Sausage​ ​Co.  in​ ​at​ ​least​ ​one​ ​of​ ​20​ ​identified​ ​programs 
that​ ​are​ ​working​ ​to​ ​build​ ​opportunity.  
 
 
​ ​amandamatelonek​​ ​(flickr)  41
​ ​U.S.​ ​Census​ ​Bureau.​ ​Economic​ ​Census​ ​(2012).  
 

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FOOD​ ​BUSINESS​ ​RESOURCES     

 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
     
   
 

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FOOD​ ​BUSINESSES​ ​STEPS     

   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
     
 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  34  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____  Since​ ​2006,​ ​632​​ ​grants​ ​have​ ​been 

distributed​ ​to​ ​155​ ​recipients​ ​in​ ​Detroit​ ​for 
FOOD​ ​FUNDING   food​ ​and​ ​nutrition​ ​related​ ​topics​ ​totaling 
$21M​ ​from​ ​41​ ​funders.43  
Foundations​ ​have​ ​played​ ​a​ ​major​ ​role​ ​in 
Detroit’s​ ​rise​ ​as​ ​a​ ​city​ ​of​ ​urban 
TOP​ ​10​ ​RECIPIENTS​ ​OF 
agriculture;​ ​however,​ ​that​ ​funding​ ​has  FOUNDATION​ ​FUNDING:​ ​FOOD​ ​& 
been​ ​irregular​ ​over​ ​the​ ​years.   NUTRITION​ ​(2006​ ​-​ ​2016) 

FOUNDATION​ ​FUNDING​ ​FOR  1. Forgotten​ ​Harvest​ ​($5.2M) 

URBAN​ ​AGRICULTURE​ ​in​ ​DETROIT  2. Gleaners​ ​Community​ ​Food​ ​Bank 
2006-201642 
($2.9M) 
3. Eastern​ ​Market​ ​Corporation 
($2.6M) 
4. Greening​ ​of​ ​Detroit​ ​($1.5M) 
5. Crossroads​ ​of​ ​Michigan​ ​($905k) 
6. Juvenile​ ​Diabetes​ ​Research 
Foundation​ ​($801k) 
  7. Fair​ ​Food​ ​Network​ ​($771k) 
8. Capuchin​ ​Soup​ ​Kitchen​ ​($666k) 
While​ ​foundations​ ​have​ ​helped​ ​fill​ ​gaps, 
the​ ​volatility​ ​of​ ​funding​ ​and​ ​foundation  9. American​ ​Diabetes​ ​Association 
priorities​ ​have​ ​made​ ​it​ ​difficult​ ​for​ ​food  ($442k) 
work​ ​to​ ​establish​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​footing​ ​in 
10. Edison​ ​Institute​ ​(The​ ​Henry​ ​Ford) 
order​ ​to​ ​have​ ​long-term​ ​impact.  
($375k)  High​ ​school​ ​students​ ​working​ ​in​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​with 
Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Academy 

42
​ ​ ​Foundation​ ​Center.​ ​http://foundationcenter.org  43
​ ​Foundation​ ​Center.​ ​http://foundationcenter.org 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  35  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

____  Growing​ ​Detroit​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​opportunities  paid​ ​internship​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​culinary​ ​arts 
for​ ​youth​ ​to​ ​build​ ​new​ ​skills​ ​in​ ​leadership  and​ ​food​ ​entrepreneurship;​ ​and​ ​an 
YOUTH​ ​PIPELINE  and​ ​entrepreneurship​ ​while​ ​developing​ ​a  advanced​ ​leadership​ ​cohort​ ​to​ ​take 
network​ ​of​ ​peers​ ​to​ ​influence​ ​change​ ​in  young​ ​food​ ​businesses​ ​to​ ​the​ ​next​ ​level.  
Young​ ​people​ ​are​ ​the​ ​future.​ ​Engaging 
their​ ​communities.    
young​ ​people​ ​in​ ​potential​ ​career 
  The​ ​Greencorps​​ ​program​ ​is​ ​run​ ​by​ ​the 
pathways,​ ​skill​ ​building,​ ​and​ ​exposure​ ​to 
Good​ ​Food​ ​Ambassadors​​ ​is​ ​a​ ​program  Greening​ ​of​ ​Detroit​ ​and​ ​hires​ ​high 
food​ ​and​ ​nutrition​ ​programming​ ​can 
run​ ​by​ ​City​ ​Food​ ​Community​ ​Concepts​ ​in  school​ ​students​ ​from​ ​Detroit​ ​each 
have​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​impact​ ​on​ ​future​ ​growth 
partnership​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Detroit​ ​Health  summer​ ​to​ ​help​ ​water​ ​trees,​ ​grow​ ​food, 
and​ ​development.  
Department.​ ​The​ ​program​ ​attempts​ ​to  and​ ​maintain​ ​city​ ​parks​ ​and 
change​ ​the​ ​food​ ​system​ ​with  greenways. 
Next​ ​Generation​ ​Food​ ​System 
direct​ ​engagement​ ​by​ ​youth​ ​at​ ​grocery   
Leadership​ ​Development​​ ​is​ ​a​ ​new​ ​effort 
stores​ ​providing​ ​recipes,​ ​nutrition 
from​ ​the​ ​Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​to   
education,​ ​food​ ​assistance​ ​resources, 
expose​ ​high​ ​school​ ​students​ ​ ​to​ ​all 
and​ ​collecting​ ​data. 
aspects​ ​of​ ​the​ ​food​ ​system​ ​with 
 
hands-on​ ​experiences.​ ​The​ ​program 
The​ ​Community​ ​Health​ ​Career​ ​Pipeline 

28​% 
includes​ ​lessons,​ ​field​ ​trips,​ ​community 
is​ ​a​ ​program​ ​at​ ​Wayne​ ​State​ ​University 
service,​ ​and​ ​good​ ​eats. 
that​ ​partners​ ​with​ ​community-based 
 
programs​ ​that​ ​provide​ ​nutrition 
The​ ​Food​ ​Warriors​ ​Youth​ ​Development 
education​ ​services​ ​to​ ​youth​ ​in​ ​middle 
Program​​ ​has​ ​been​ ​run​ ​by​ ​DBCFSN​ ​for​ ​a 
and​ ​high​ ​schools,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as  of​ ​16​ ​-​ ​24​ ​year​ ​olds​ ​not 
number​ ​of​ ​years.​ ​The​ ​program​ ​is​ ​a 
programs​ ​that​ ​engage​ ​youth​ ​in​ ​food 
partnership​ ​with​ ​African-centered 
systems​ ​and​ ​access​ ​initiatives.  
working​ ​or​ ​in​ ​school44  
schools:​ ​Timbuktu​ ​Academy,​ ​Aisha 
 
Shule,​ ​and​ ​Nsoroma​ ​Academy,​ ​and 
Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Academy​​ ​has​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of   
helps​ ​introduce​ ​elementary​ ​students​ ​to 
programs​ ​that​ ​include:​ ​an​ ​after-school 
agriculture.  
leadership​ ​program​ ​that​ ​culminates​ ​in   
 
the​ ​design​ ​and​ ​launch​ ​of​ ​students’​ ​own 
Youth​ ​Growing​ ​Detroit​​ ​and​ ​Youth 
triple-bottom-line​ ​food​ ​business;​ ​a 
Apprenticeships​ ​are​ ​run​ ​by​ ​Keep 
summer​ ​leadership​ ​program​ ​that​ ​is​ ​a  44
​ ​National​ ​Equity​ ​Atlas.​ ​http://nationalequityatlas.com​ ​(2014).   
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  36  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   
____ 
    NEXT​ ​STEPS 

    This​ ​report​ ​purposely​ ​makes​ ​no 

recommendations​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​data 
    presented.​ ​The​ ​goal​ ​was​ ​to​ ​pull​ ​together 
the​ ​most​ ​recent​ ​data​ ​on​ ​Detroit’s​ ​food 
    system​ ​so​ ​that​ ​all​ ​partners​ ​may​ ​come​ ​to 
the​ ​table​ ​with​ ​equal​ ​access​ ​to​ ​data​ ​and 
    information​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​build 
collaborative​ ​policies​ ​and​ ​programs​ ​that 
    benefit​ ​community​ ​members.  

    New​ ​questions​ ​and​ ​analyses​ ​may​ ​be 

proposed​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​this​ ​report. 
    Future​ ​efforts​ ​will​ ​be​ ​focused​ ​on 
updating​ ​a​ ​set​ ​of​ ​measurable​ ​food 
   
metrics​ ​on​ ​an​ ​annual​ ​basis.​ ​Reports 
published​ ​in​ ​consecutive​ ​years​ ​may​ ​be 
   
more​ ​limited​ ​to​ ​the​ ​specific​ ​metrics 
defined​ ​by​ ​governmental,​ ​nonprofit,​ ​and 
   
community​ ​stakeholders.   
   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  37  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

   
____ 
 
  REFERENCES 
 
  Articles 
Allard,​ ​Scott​ ​W.,​ ​Maria​ ​V.​ ​Wathen,​ ​H.​ ​Luke​ ​Shaefer,​ ​and  Food​ ​and​ ​Agriculture​ ​Organization​ ​(FAO)​ ​“Rome​ ​Declaration 
Sandra​ ​K.​ ​Danziger.​ ​"Neighborhood​ ​Food​ ​Infrastructure​ ​and  on​ ​Food​ ​Security​ ​and​ ​World​ ​Food​ ​Summit​ ​Plan​ ​of​ ​Action” 
  Food​ ​Security​ ​in​ ​Metropolitan​ ​Detroit."​ ​Journal​ ​of​ ​Consumer  (November​ ​1996). 
Affairs​ ​(2017).  http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/w3613e/w3613e00.htm 
   
Darmon,​ ​Nicole,​ ​and​ ​Adam​ ​Drewnowski.​ ​"Contribution​ ​of​ ​food 
prices​ ​and​ ​diet​ ​cost​ ​to​ ​socioeconomic​ ​disparities​ ​in​ ​diet  Fussman,​ ​Chris.​ ​2013-2015​ ​Michigan​ ​BRFS​ ​Regional​ ​&​ ​Local 
quality​ ​and​ ​health:​ ​a​ ​systematic​ ​review​ ​and​ ​analysis."  Health​ ​Department​ ​Estimates.​ ​MDHHS​ ​(2016). 
  Nutrition​ ​Reviews​ ​73,​ ​no.​ ​10​ ​(2015):​ ​643-660.  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdhhs/2013-2015_MiBR
  FSS_Reg__LHD_Tables_9.16.16_535671_7.pdf 
Gomez-Lopez,​ ​Iris​ ​N.,​ ​Philippa​ ​Clarke,​ ​Alex​ ​B.​ ​Hill,​ ​Daniel​ ​M.   
  Romero,​ ​Robert​ ​Goodspeed,​ ​Veronica​ ​J.​ ​Berrocal,​ ​VG​ ​Vinod 
Keep​ ​Growing​ ​Detroit,​ ​2016​ ​Annual​ ​Report​ ​(2016). 
Vydiswaran,​ ​and​ ​Tiffany​ ​C.​ ​Veinot.​ ​"Using​ ​Social​ ​Media​ ​to 
Identify​ ​Sources​ ​of​ ​Healthy​ ​Food​ ​in​ ​Urban​ ​Neighborhoods."  http://detroitagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2016_KGD_A
  Journal​ ​of​ ​Urban​ ​Health​ ​(2017):​ ​1-8.  nnual-Report_Share_11.13.16.pdf 
 
Hill,​ ​Alex​ ​B.​ ​"Critical​ ​inquiry​ ​into​ ​Detroit's​ ​“food​ ​desert” 
metaphor."​ ​Food​ ​and​ ​Foodways​ ​(2017):​ ​1-19.  Michigan.​ ​Legislature.​ ​House​ ​of​ ​Representatives.​ ​Committee 
  on​ ​Public​ ​Health.​ ​Health​ ​Project​ ​on​ ​Hunger​ ​and​ ​Malnutrition., 
 
Hill,​ ​Alex​ ​B.​ ​“‘Treat​ ​everybody​ ​right:’​ ​Multidimensional  A​ ​matter​ ​of​ ​justice:​ ​a​ ​report​ ​on​ ​hunger​ ​and​ ​malnutrition,​ ​State 
Foodways​ ​in​ ​Detroit."​ ​Wayne​ ​State​ ​University​,​ ​(2016).  of​ ​Michigan.​ ​[Lansing,​ ​Mich.]:​ ​Citizens'​ ​Conference​ ​on​ ​State 
    Legislatures​ ​(1975). 
Hill,​ ​Alex​ ​B.,​ ​and​ ​Sylvie​ ​Naar-King.​ ​“Fruit​ ​and​ ​Vegetable 
Availability,​ ​Quality,​ ​&​ ​Consumption​ ​in​ ​Detroit’s​ ​Food​ ​Desert 
  among​ ​African​ ​American​ ​Adolescents​ ​with​ ​Obesity.”​ ​Poster 
presented​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Annual​ ​Meeting​ ​of​ ​the​ ​American​ ​Public 
Databases 
Health​ ​Association​ ​(APHA),​ ​New​ ​Orleans,​ ​LA​ ​(2014). 
CDC.​ ​500​ ​Cities​ ​Project.​ ​http://cdc.gov/500cities 
 
 
  Pothukuchi,​ ​Kami,​ ​and​ ​Brian​ ​Thomas.​ ​"Food​ ​deserts​ ​and 
access​ ​to​ ​retail​ ​grocery​ ​in​ ​inner​ ​cities."​ ​Community​ ​News​ ​& 
Foundation​ ​Center.​ ​http://foundationcenter.org 
 
Views​ ​17,​ ​no.​ ​1​ ​(2004):​ ​6-7. 
NACCHO.​ ​Big​ ​Cities​ ​Health​ ​Coalition. 
 
http://bigcitieshealth.org 
   
Reports 
 
National​ ​Equity​ ​Atlas.​ ​http://nationalequityatlas.com​ ​(2014).   
 
Economic​ ​Analysis​ ​of​ ​Detroit’s​ ​Food​ ​Economy.​ ​Detroit​ ​Food  U.S.​ ​Bureau​ ​of​ ​Labor​ ​Statistics,​ ​Occupational​ ​Employment 
  and​ ​Fitness​ ​Collaborative.​ ​(2014).  
 
Statistics​ ​(2016). 
 
U.S.​ ​Census​ ​Bureau.​ ​Economic​ ​Census​ ​(2012).  
Feeding​ ​America.​ ​Poverty​ ​and​ ​Hunger​ ​Fact​ ​Sheet​ ​(May​ ​2017). 
  http://www.feedingamerica.org/assets/pdfs/fact-sheets/povert
 
USDA​ ​Food​ ​and​ ​Nutrition​ ​Service​ ​(2016).  
y-and-hunger-fact-sheet.pdf   
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  38  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

     
____     
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS     
Research​ ​&​ ​Writing:  Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​(DFPC)  City​ ​of​ ​Detroit, 
Alex​ ​B.​ ​Hill​ ​(DHD)  Board​ ​Members  Health​ ​Department​ ​(DHD) 
Amy​ ​Kuras​ ​(DFPC)  Sandra​ ​Turner-Handy,​ ​Chair  Joneigh​ ​Khaldun,​ ​Exec.​ ​Director 
Tisa​ ​Allen  Mariangela​ ​Pledl,​ ​Vice​ ​Chair  Tim​ ​Lawther,​ ​Deputy​ ​Director 
Olivia​ ​Henry​ ​(DFPC)  Jerry​ ​Ann​ ​Hebron,​ ​Treasurer  Alex​ ​B.​ ​Hill,​ ​Food​ ​Access​ ​Manager  
Mariah​ ​van​ ​Ermen  Zaundra​ ​Wimberley,​ ​Secretary   
  Velonda​ ​Anderson  Office​ ​of​ ​Sustainability 
Maps​ ​&​ ​Report​ ​Design:  Jelani​ ​Barber  Joel​ ​Howrani​ ​Heeres,​ ​Director 
Alex​ ​B.​ ​Hill  Jermond​ ​Booze  Elizabeth​ ​Palazzolo 
  Joel​ ​Howrani​ ​Heeres   
Photo​ ​Sharing:  Tyler​ ​Chatman   
Drew​ ​Farm​ ​(DPSCD)  Eileen​ ​Haraminac   
Detroit​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Transportation  Alex​ ​B.​ ​Hill   
Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Academy  Jayne​ ​Jackson   
Capital​ ​Impact​ ​Partners  Nick​ ​Leonard   
  Atieno​ ​Nyar​ ​Kasagam   
Data​ ​Sharing:  Suezette​ ​Olaker   
Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Map​ ​Initiative   Lindsay​ ​Pielack   
Forgotten​ ​Harvest   Kathryn​ ​Lynch​ ​Underwood   
Eastern​ ​Market​ ​Corporation  Staff​ ​Members    
  Winona​ ​Bynum,​ ​Exec.​ ​Director   
  Kibibi​ ​Blount-Dorn,​ ​Manager     
  Amy​ ​Kuras,​ ​Manager   
  Olivia​ ​Henry,​ ​Coordinator   
     
     

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  39  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017 

 
 

 
____ 
NOTES 
 
 

Detroit​ ​Food​ ​Policy​ ​Council​ ​//​ ​Detroit​ ​Health​ ​Department  40  DETROIT​​ ​F ood​ ​Metrics​ ​Report​ ​2017