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Listening local: Community perceptions of fresh food resources in Greater Little Rock
Author(s) -
Moak Stacy C.,
McAteer Caitlin P. S.,
Rossi Heather A.,
Schmidt Merrill J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.21941
Subject(s) - food security , food insecurity , active listening , psychological intervention , perception , business , asset (computer security) , food service , marketing , public relations , geography , environmental health , environmental planning , political science , psychology , medicine , nursing , communication , archaeology , neuroscience , computer science , agriculture , computer security
A research team from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service partnered with community stakeholders to study fresh food access in Central Arkansas. The purpose of this study was to inform decision making on options to reduce food insecurity in two target neighborhoods. The study included three components: (a) interviews at food pantries, (b) online surveys with local experts, and (c) asset mapping of the healthy food resources in the target neighborhoods. Findings reveal that cost and transportation present barriers to fresh food access in the target neighborhoods. Furthermore, residents support mobile markets and community gardens as viable options for increasing food access. The process of understanding food insecurity discussed in this study can provide a model for other communities in addressing urban food security issues. Each community is unique; thus, community based research should be undertaken in the community prior to interventions that address food access and nutrition.