In her op-ed, Mary Oxendine, a Healthy Communities 2024 Fellow, addresses the impact of U.S. agricultural subsidies on the rise of ultra-processed diets, particularly in low-income and Indigenous communities. She reflects on her own upbringing, where processed foods were a staple due to their affordability, and highlights how subsistence farming in her family provided some access to fresh food. Mary points out that government subsidies heavily favor commodity crops like corn, soy, and sugar, making ultra-processed foods cheaper and more accessible than healthier options like fruits and vegetables.
She argues that this imbalance contributes to poor health outcomes, such as higher rates of diabetes and other chronic diseases. Mary calls for a revision of agricultural policies, particularly the Farm Bill, to prioritize subsidies for fruits and vegetables, making healthier foods more affordable and accessible. By doing so, she believes the U.S. can reverse the trend of diet-related diseases and make the healthy choice the easy choice for everyone.