Examining Shopping Patterns, Use of Food-Related Resources, and Proposed Solutions to Improve Healthy Food Access Among Food Insecure and Food Secure Eastern North Carolina Residents

Abstract

In the Southern United States (U.S.), food insecurity rates are higher in rural (20.8%) versus urban communities (15%). Food insecurity can exacerbate diet-related disease. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in the use of food-related community resources and potential solutions proposed among food insecure versus food secure residents. A community survey (n = 370) was conducted in rural eastern North Carolina, with questions pertaining to food security status and food-related resources. The IBM SPSS Statistics software and SAS software were used to examine differences in food-related resources, and qualitative data analysis was used to examine differences in solutions offered between food insecure and food secure participants. Of the 370 respondents, forty-eight-point-six percent were classified as food insecure. Food insecure participants were more likely to report shopping for groceries at a convenience/discount store, less likely to use their own vehicle for transportation, and less likely to purchase food from local producers. Food insecure participants were more likely to suggest solutions related to reducing the cost of healthy food, while food secure participants were more likely to suggest educational or convenience-related interventions.

Perceptions of the Food Environment and Access among Predominantly Black Low-Income Residents of Rural Louisiana Communities

“…To bridge the gap in food access, our study participants reported bartering for food, gardening, hunting/fishing, visiting food pantries, and shopping at dollar stores. Our participants generally had a negative opinion of home gardening, which supports a recent study reporting that rural food insecure persons were less likely to have a garden than food secure persons [ 14 ]. Other recent studies suggest gardening is perceived positively by white rural residents [ 12 , 39 ].…”

“…In contrast, our findings suggest that living in rural locations, being poor and a minority may contribute to food insecurity. Previous research among rural food insecure persons has largely focused on White audiences, [ 12 , 29 , 37 ] and very few have included the perceptions of rural, low-income Black audiences, which experience a higher prevalence of food insecurity [ 11 , 14 ].…”

“…In a critical literature review, Carter et al found evidence suggesting residence in rural areas is protective against food insecurity mainly due to the social environment and unique factors at the local or “place” level reported within locations investigated [ 9 ]. There are also a number of studies [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ] that find numerous food access and insecurity barriers among rural households that may be unique to rural settings in certain contexts. For example, households with lower income in rural areas may lack transportation or rely on social networks to access built, wild and cultivated community food options.…”

Policy Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity in Rural America: Evidence from Appalachia

“…Our findings provide evidence of the potential impact of such assistance on food access in an Appalachian community. Southern rural community members, regardless of food security status, have been found to use community resources such as cooking classes, farmers’ markets, and community gardens equally [ 27 , 28 ]. Furthermore, SNAP benefits provide a rapid, effective economic stimulus, generating USD $1.70 for each dollar spent [ 29 ].…”

Food insecurity and cardiovascular disease: Current trends and future directions

“…Community gardens and farmers markets have been shown to help improve access to fresh produce, integrating nutritious food access into the community's built environment while encouraging participation in aid programs like SNAP [ 78 , 95 ]. Given the reduced cardiovascular risk associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake, increasing fruit and vegetable access via these community initiatives would improve both food security status and cardiovascular health [ 96 ]. Alternatives to simply opening more grocery stores in low access areas, such as sugary drink taxes and local nutrition education programs, have also been shown to improve dietary quality among the food insecure and improve their cardiovascular outcomes [ 95 , 97 , 98 ].…”