Food Access Plan to address deserts in Broome County

BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – After 21 months of planning the Food Bank revealed its Food Access Plan, to bolster the accessibility and quality of healthy food for those living in food deserts.

The access plan process began in 2022, when representatives at Binghamton University created a food accessibility map to identify the most underserved populations throughout Broome County.

The three areas of focus are Western Broome, specifically the Town of Maine, Eastern Broome, including Windsor, Deposit, Conklin and Kirkwood, and the City of Binghamton.

The Food Council Coordinator at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Theresa Krause, says the most immediate change will be the organization’s mobile pantry distributing food in the Town of Maine and the Southside of Binghamton.

“The next step is to have a food systems analysis which will be coming in 2026. And we will be bringing consultants into Broome County to do a study from field to fork to rescue, and looking at climate, the agricultural needs in Broome County. All of that will be a part of the food systems plan,” says Krause.

She says making a comprehensive plan for Broome County is difficult, due to the differences between rural, suburban, and urban communities.

Krause says locally, the highest rates of food insecurity are the ages from birth to 5 years old.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.