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Addressing issues with food deserts in Gary is important to Mayor Eddie Melton, he said, going back to his days as an Indiana state senator.

“I tried to pass legislation to study food and pharmacy deserts in urban communities,” Melton said. “It didn’t pass, but I continued to try to work on it through other organizations, and coming in as mayor, I knew this was going to be an issue I wanted to address. … Based on Gary’s geographic footprint and our population, it’s clear we don’t have the level of quality and quantity of providers for fresh and healthy food.”

The city of Gary and Indiana University Northwest have collaborated on a food security study, which is expected to be released in the early spring of 2026. Indiana University’s Center fo

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