Hunger is a big problem in Monterey County

The Monterey County Health Department released a new report Monday on food insecurity, and the data is startling.

It’s a complex, systematic issue because Salinas is known as the Salad Bowl of the World, yet the growers of those nutritional food sources can’t access them, according to the health department.

“We have a large farmer worker community that often can’t afford the very food that they are harvesting.” said Chris Moss with the Monterey County Health Department.

According to the report, 34% of Monterey County residents can’t afford enough food. In 2014, 1 out of every 4 pregnant women in the county experienced food insecurity. The data also showed Hispanic and black pregnant women are more than twice as likely to experience that food insecurity.

“If you’re down to your last few dollars and payday is still several days away, you become hyper-aware of how every single dollar is spent,” said Moss. “It’s a stressful and exhausting way to live.”

Part of the problem is the expense of living in Monterey County. Experts add there is also a lack of understanding about what constitutes a healthy diet.

While those experts don’t want to underestimate the problem, they’re confident things can change. One thing they want to stress is that more people could be taking advantage of the available benefits. They also want to stress that help is on hand, whether through WIC, the Monterey County Food Bank, or CalFresh.