Joel Mathis

Joel Mathis

Joel Mathis is a freelance writer who lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife and son. He spent nine years as a syndicated columnist, co-writing the RedBlueAmerica column as the liberal half of a point-counterpoint duo. His honors include awards for best online commentary from the Online News Association and (twice) from the City and Regional Magazine Association.

Stories by Joel Mathis

The Juniper Gardens Training Farm in Kansas City, Kansas, helps refugee farmers navigate their first year of growing and selling produce at local farmers markets, a CSA program and a wholesaling operation that caters to restaurants. In the field is Gasalla Musekura, formerly of Congo. (Photo by Jeff Tuttle)

Thinking Outside the Big Box to Address Food Deserts

By Joel Mathis | December 15, 2021

The solution to food deserts doesn't appear to lie in wooing large retailers to fill voids so much as listening to the needs of the underserved and trying multiple approaches to get healthy foods in the hands of residents.