My home county in Oklahoma has fewer than five restaurants. The town I live in has one small grocery store, three restaurants and two convenience stores. Even though our largest industry is agriculture, food availability in our area is exceptionally limited.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers food security to mean that “all people at all times have enough food for an active, healthy life.” This is far from the economic reality for much of rural America. Communities like mine in rural northwest Oklahoma have long been considered food deserts.
This is an unfortunate reality for much of our state, which is considered the 10th-least food secure state in the nation. Over 500,000 Oklahomans are experiencing food insecurity. Of those, 200,000 are children. Knowing that this many children in our state are going to bed hungry is heartbreaking.
Food access affects our well-being by what is available, convenient and nutritional. When considering where food is consumed at home or away from home, our rural areas face greater food access challenges due to limited food establishments and access to fresh produce and other healthy foods. COVID-19 impacted this on an even greater level.
As we know, convenient foods are more affordable and typically not the most nutritious. I’m lucky enough to live in a home where I don’t have to worry about food, but not all kids are as fortunate. In fact, almost 25% of households with children headed by a single female experienced food insecurity.
What are possible solutions to help families in this situation? To address these challenges, social entrepreneurs like us are working toward a meaningful solution in rural areas.
When one of our last remaining restaurants closed, we explored ways to reduce food insecurity through the ingenuity and creativity of our rural neighbors. Thanks to a grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, my family worked with Harper County Development Authority to co-create a food cooperative called Collective Roots.
Our cooperative includes a storefront on Main Street and a licensed commercial incubator kitchen. Utilizing additional USDA Rural Business Development grants following the COVID-19 pandemic, we have created a unique social endeavor committed to addressing the limited food options and providing local food entrepreneurs a small business opportunity.
Collective Roots products are made locally and across Oklahoma. Since opening in 2021, our Collective Roots cooperative has served 30 vendors from northwest Oklahoma and over 70 from across the state. Collective Roots also manages the local farmer’s market, sells produce during the growing season and has two Fork Farm hydroponic towers that grow over 40 pounds of lettuce every 28 days.
Being a volunteer and employee throughout the last three years has shown me the importance of supporting rural America. The businesses we support cannot thrive without robust consumer demand.
Shopping at rural businesses allows businesses like my family’s to stay open. It is one of the best ways to support the people who grow our food and creates the opportunity for rural entrepreneurs to continue providing a fresh food source for the historically food insecure communities. The next time you go to the store to buy whatever it is, think about your rural neighbors.
Food insecurity arises from a lack of money and other resources to acquire food. We provide something uniquely fresh, uniquely high-quality and uniquely Oklahoman. Join us in creating more opportunities for rural places to thrive.
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Kensli Shaffer is a sophomore at Laverne High School and serves as the school's FFA Chapter Reporter
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