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The perceived influence of cost-offset community-supported agriculture on food access among low-income families
White, Michelle J. Jilcott Pitts, Stephanie B. McGuirt, Jared T. Hanson, Karla L. Morgan, Emily H. Kolodinsky, Jane Wang, Weiwei Sitaker, Marilyn Ammerman, Alice S. Seguin, Rebecca A.
White, Michelle J.
Jilcott Pitts, Stephanie B.
McGuirt, Jared T.
Hanson, Karla L.
Morgan, Emily H.
Kolodinsky, Jane
Wang, Weiwei
Sitaker, Marilyn
Ammerman, Alice S.
Seguin, Rebecca A.
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© The Authors 2018.
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
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10.1017/S1368980018001751
Abstract
Objective To examine perspectives on food access among low-income families participating in a cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CO-CSA) programme.Design Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) is a multicentre randomized intervention trial assessing the effect of CO-CSA on dietary intake and quality among children from low-income families. Focus groups were conducted at the end of the first CO-CSA season. Participants were interviewed about programme experiences, framed by five dimensions of food access: Availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability and accommodation. Transcribed data were coded on these dimensions plus emergent themes.Setting Nine communities in the US states of New York, North Carolina, Washington and Vermont.Subjects Fifty-Three F3HK adults with children.Results CSA models were structured by partner farms. Produce quantity was abundant; however, availability was enhanced for participants who were able to select their own produce items. Flexible CSA pick-up times and locations made produce pick-up more accessible. Despite being affordable to most, payment timing was a barrier for some. Unfamiliar foods and quick spoilage hindered acceptability through challenging meal planning, despite accommodations that included preparation advice.Conclusions Although CO-CSA may facilitate increased access to fruits and vegetables for low-income families, perceptions of positive diet change may be limited by the ability to incorporate share pick-up into regular travel patterns and meal planning. Food waste concerns may be particularly acute for families with constrained resources. Future research should examine whether CO-CSA with flexible logistics and produce self-selection are sustainable for low-income families and CSA farms.
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2018-10-01
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White MJ, Pitts SB, McGuirt JT, Hanson KL, Morgan EH, Kolodinsky J, Wang W, Sitaker M, Ammerman AS, Seguin RA. The perceived influence of cost-offset community-supported agriculture on food access among low-income families. Public health nutrition. 2018 Oct;21(15):2866-74.