Macon Magazine

58 maconmagazine.com | February/March 2026 Exped qui iumqui audam aut et verit volor re eumqui cus, que premqui si conse nese. they can invest in local programs that address hunger and food access. W H A T D O E S F O O D J U S T I C E L O O K L I K E I N M A C O N ? With several neighborhoods in Macon qualifying as food deserts, there is a demonstrated need for improved access to healthy, nutritious food. Resources like food co-ops, markets and community gardens are some of the ways that communities can improve access to fresh, healthy foods. In Central Georgia, the Poplar St. Farmers Market and Napier Heights Food Co-Op provide regular access to fresh, healthy, locally grown and produced food in Downtown Macon Visit the Poplar Street Farmer's Market, pictured here, every Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. on Poplar between 3rd St. and MLK Jr. Blvd. and Pleasant Hill, respectively. SNAP/ EBT dollars are matched at these location, doubling the buying power for those customers. Additionally, you can find community gardens and food resources present throughout the city, including community gardens in Felton Homes, Brookdale Resource Center, and Centenary Church's community fridge and community garden. Advocates for food justice in Macon like Rodney Mason (see page 42) say that one key thing to improving our food system in Macon is having conversations about food justice, improving understanding about the difficulty of accessing healthy food, and reconnecting to our roots and Indigenous food traditions. Additionally, improving food literacy is another part of the process in improving our food systems to better serve our community. This includes deepening community understanding about the history of our food systems, passing down generational knowledge about how to grow food, and creating autonomy and independence for communities to grow their own food. Adequate and reliable access to healthy, nutritious food for all residents is crucial to community health. While city officials have limited options when it comes to picking locations for conventional grocery stores, communities can and should invest in programs that address the gaps in the market not covered by the grocery giants. And the benefit of investing in these programs is immense. Programs like community gardens not only increase access to healthy foods, but they can also address other ecological issues like heat islands and low tree coverage. They can provide an opportunity for workforce development. According to Sustainable America, community gardens, when designed intentionally and continuously managed, can mitigate issues with flooding and reduce noise pollution. As our community grows, so too should our commitment to growing and improving food access for every resident. "Adequate and reliable access to healthy, nutritious food for all residents is crucial to community health."

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