Climate Connection

Seasonal changes, extremes in temperature, and more frequent, severe weather events do not only affect day-in-day-out Nashvillian activities. These specific climate shifts directly impact food production. Climate shift consequences include growing predictability in the planting schedule, erratic dips or overflow in rainfall, soil degradation, lower, less nutritious crop yield, and an increase in pests and plant disease. These consequences can trigger secondary consequences that disrupt the local food system altogether. Disruptions to Nashville’s food system reduce local availability, drive higher prices for food with less nutritious value, and create a greater dependence on food produced and processed outside of the local system. Collectively, these effects have been exacerbating issues with food insecurity and healthy food access that plague our city. Food justice in Nashville is a growing concern as the city grapples with issues of food insecurity, inequitable access to healthy food, and the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.

A recent study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found a staggering 40% of Tennessee families are food insecure. According to a companion study, Metro Social Services departments, 1 out of 10 Nashvillians are food insecure. This is a blatant irony in a state with a long tradition of agriculture. The Tennessee state seal boasts agriculture and commerce!

The highest concentration of food insecurity is found in North Nashville zipcodes. Many of these neighborhoods, particularly lower-income area and low-access communities (LILAC) face challenges in accessing fresh, nutritious, affordable food. They are historically communities of color and immigrant communities. Food deserts and food swamps are prevalent, where residents may live far from grocery stores or farmers' markets, relying on corner stores or fast food that often lack healthy options. Efforts to address food justice in Nashville focus on returning food sovereignty to neighborhoods and low-income populations. These efforts include community gardens, local food cooperatives, and initiatives by nonprofits that work to provide fresh produce through mobile markets or urban farms. These initiatives aim to not only provide access to healthy food but also empower communities, encourage sustainable practices, and create local food systems that prioritize equity. The city’s movement toward food justice emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive solutions where all Nashvillians can enjoy the benefits of healthy, sustainable, and culturally appropriate food.