A newly-created panel is trying to find ways to make it easier for nearly 2 million Alabamians to eat healthier food.
The Alabama Healthy Food Financing Initiative Study Commission met this week to address the problem of so-called "food deserts" in the state. State lawmakers created the commission earlier this year.
The group will consult with retailers and health experts to develop projects that could be sent to the state legislature as recommendations for action during the next legislative session beginning in February.
Alabama has an extremely high diabetes rate for adults and high obesity levels for children, and experts say the lack of healthy food availability is a driving force behind both problems.
Approximately 1.8 million state residents don't have access to healthy food near their home. Officials are looking at partnerships between government and private entities to address the problem.