Excess stores of food purchased by the government and stored away for later use are referred to as what?

• A. Food reserves
• B. Food deserts
• C. Food mountains
• D. Food stocks

Answer: (C)

Excess government purchases stored for later use are described as food mountains. This term captures the image of very large, policy-driven surpluses of staple foods that governments hold in storage to smooth prices or provide relief in emergencies. It emphasizes the scale of the stored surplus, not just any stock or a lack of access. While food reserves or food stocks are valid ways to describe stored food, they don’t convey the idea of enormous, intentionally accumulated quantities as clearly as “food mountains” does. Food deserts, by contrast, describe areas with limited access to food and aren’t about stored surpluses.