By Chloe Chehovin
*This is an opinion-based article submitted by a resident. Any views, opinions, or statements made are those of the author and are not intended to represent the Dale County Chronicle.
Dale County sits in the middle of one of the most agriculturally rich regions of Alabama. We are surrounded by farmland, livestock operations, and generations of agricultural knowledge. Yet many of us know more about the latest food trend on social media than we do about where our dinner came from.
That disconnect is costing us more than we realize.
Alabama’s adult obesity rate now stands at nearly 39%, making it one of the highest in the nation. Nearly 1.9 million Alabama adults are living with obesity, and obesity-related healthcare costs are projected to reach more than $7 billion annually. Diabetes rates remain among the highest in the country, while heart disease continues to be a leading cause of death.
For years, we’ve been told the solution is simple: eat better and exercise more.
But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question?
Instead of asking why consumers aren’t making healthier choices, perhaps we should ask why healthy choices have become so difficult to make in the first place.
Today’s food system is remarkably efficient. It can move strawberries across continents, tomatoes across multiple states, and processed meals across oceans. Yet efficiency is not the same thing as health.
A handful of corporations now control much of what Americans eat. Grocery store shelves appear full of choices, but many of those brands trace back to the same parent companies. Food is formulated for convenience, consistency, and shelf life. The goal is often not to maximize nutrition but to maximize sales.
And it works.
The average consumer can purchase a highly processed meal in seconds while struggling to identify where the ingredients originated. Labels promise “natural,” “healthy,” or “heart smart,” but consumers are left navigating marketing claims rather than meaningful transparency.
Meanwhile, nearly 80% of Alabamians fail to consume enough fruits and vegetables. We live in a state with fertile soil, a long growing season, and thousands of farms, yet most of us remain disconnected from the very people producing food around us.
As a military child and now a military spouse, I have lived in communities across the United States and overseas. One thing I’ve noticed is that the strongest communities often share a common trait: people know where their food comes from.
They know the farmer.
They know what is in season.
They understand the connection between local agriculture and community health.
In many places, that knowledge has been replaced by dependence. We depend on corporations to feed us. We depend on supply chains we do not understand. We depend on labels rather than relationships.
Dale County offers a different model.
We are fortunate to live in a place where local agriculture is still part of the community’s identity. Supporting local farmers is not simply an economic issue. It is a public health strategy.
Research has shown that communities with poor access to healthy food experience higher rates of obesity and chronic disease. Counties with larger concentrations of food deserts have obesity rates approximately 9% higher than comparable communities with better food access.
When consumers buy from local producers, they gain something that cannot be found in a nutrition label: accountability. They can ask questions. They can learn how food was grown. They can build relationships with the people who produce it.
That matters.
Consumer health is often discussed as if it begins in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies. In reality, it begins much earlier. It begins in grocery carts, at farmers markets, around dinner tables, and in the decisions communities make about the food systems they support.
The greatest consumer health challenge facing America may not be a lack of information.
It may be a lack of connection.
Connection to our food.
Connection to our farmers.
Connection to the communities that have sustained themselves long before multinational corporations convinced us that convenience was the same thing as health.
If Dale County wants healthier families, healthier children, and a healthier future, the solution may be closer than we think.
It may be growing just down the road.
Sources
- Alabama Department of Public Health. “Alabama Obesity Trends and Statistics.”
- American Diabetes Association. The Burden of Obesity in Alabama, 2025.
- Alabama State Association for Agricultural Marketing Programs. Food Access and Nutrition Statistics.
- Auburn University at Montgomery. Food Deserts in Alabama: Impacts on Community Health.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Facts and Diabetes Statistics.
- Alabama Secretary of State. Alabama Election and Demographic Data.
- Alabama Republican Party. State Executive Committee Candidate Listings, Dale County Place 1.
“The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization with which she is affiliated.”
Chloe Chehovin is a Dale County resident, military spouse, and Training Coordinator at All In Credit Union. She holds degrees in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Political Science from West Virginia University and has experience in public policy, government relations, and workforce development. Hernandez previously served on the Morgantown Health and Wellness Commission and has worked with both state and federal policymakers. She writes on issues affecting local communities, consumer well-being, and public policy.
