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Assessing Healthy Food Access for Low-Income Households Shopping at a Farmers Market in Rural Athens County, Ohio

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Low-income households living in food deserts potentially face an increased risk of having limited access to healthy food and developing diet-related chronic diseases.Most food desert studies only consider large grocery stores as points of food access, and in doing so, miss potentially important sources of healthy, more sustainably produced food.This pilot study examined differences among those living in food deserts and nonfood deserts in addition to examining overall reasons low-income households access the Athens Farmers Market.Thirty low-income participants shopping at the Market were surveyed.Thirty-seven percent (n=11) of participants lived in a food desert.No significant differences among food security status (p=0.90),social capital (p=0.40),daily fruit and vegetable intake (p=0.23),perceived health status (p=1.0) or diet quality (p=0.63)occurred based on food desert residency.Top reasons for accessing food at the Market included it being a source of high quality 'local' food and it being a social place to gather and support the community.This study suggests that farmers markets may be accessible sources of healthy food for low-income households living in food deserts.

Source: OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network)

Author: Jessica E. Bilecki

Institution: Ohio University

Language: English

Topic: Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Reduced inequalities, No poverty, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2731966760

FWCI:

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Related to: 10