Community gardens and farmers’ markets can help to relieve food deserts, but not for an entire city

With the rise of inequality and the decline of suburban areas in some North American cities, ‘food deserts’ have become an increasingly important problem for urban policymakers. Using Edmonton, Alberta as a case study, Feng Qiu looks at whether community gardens and farmers markets can act to alleviate these urban food deserts, and increase food access amongst disadvantaged groups. She finds that community gardens and farmers’ markets tend to benefit those living in the city centre the most, and that their ability to alleviate fresh food deficits for the entire city, especially its periphery, is limited.