I lived in an area that would be a borderline food desert. Families car pooled to places like sam's club and split the cost of one membership. Years later, I lived in a different area and with only a dollar general in early adulthood. I could never understand the desert. I bought rice and lentils until I could afford more. Dollar general has simple foods like nuts, seeds, etc. It is certainly a problem that people are eating processed junk food, but the desert argument has always been a tough sell for me.