The history of grocery stores leading to answers about food deserts

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — There has been constant change in grocery stores over the years, but have supermarkets contributed to food deserts?

“We have the larger grocery stores, the supermarkets that have taken the place of the little neighborhood stores and the convenience stores,” said Boone County Museum Historical Society President Carol Rowe.

Rowe is passionate about this discussion and gives lectures on the past and current state of these places to shop. Analysis from the Association of American Medical Colleges and USDA shows that 54 million people lack reliable access to food.

23.5 million live in food deserts and Rowe hopes to address that issue in Belvidere.

“We have some of our grocery stores that have closed,” said Rowe. “A lot of people go to Rockford to shop and it would be more convenient if we had another grocery store here in Belvidere.”

Rockford residents also do not feel like there are enough shopping locations either.

At the beginning of 2024, Governor Pritzker signed the Grocery Initiative Act which distributed $20 million in grants and technical assistance to grocery stores and funding for research into food insecurity.

For a list of other lectures at the Boone County Museum Historical Society visit their website .

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