Food or Fuel: Rising Gasoline Prices and Food Access Among WIC Families in Non-Metropolitan Southwest Michigan

Abstract

In 2007 and early 2008 retail gasoline prices rose nearly 75% along with rising food prices. We investigated grocery shopping attitudes and behavior of 69 families receiving Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program benefits in non-metropolitan southwest Michigan and 8 local food retailers during this period. Interviews covered food buying habits and the impact of rising gasoline prices. Analysis revealed heightened concern about household food budgets, decreased shopping frequency, compromised food quality (fewer fresh foods), and, in several cases, likely food insufficiency. Retailers confirmed customer concerns and changes in shopping habits. Findings suggest that food insecurity risk among this population may increase when gasoline prices rapidly rise.

Understanding Motivations for Gardening Using a Qualitative General Inductive Approach

“…This theme included descriptions of benefits previously reported in research such as seeing reduced grocery bills, saving money, and obtaining self-sufficiency and differed from the food availability, nutrition, and health theme in that participants used specific verbiage related to economics. Reduced food access and food security for families has been linked to economic factors such as rising fuel costs (Webber and Rojhani, 2010) and is a current problem in the United States (Carney et al, 2012). The economic theme was documented through statements such as, ''it saves my family money'' and ''it saves me a lot of money not having to buy it at the store.''…”

Including the Voices of Communities in Food Insecurity Research: An Empowerment-based Agenda for Food Scholarship

“…The mainstream literature on food insecurity has sought to define and operationalize the term, estimate its prevalence, and examine how it interacts with other problems of poverty (Brown, Noonan, & Nord, 2007;Coleman-Jensen, 2010;De Haen, Klasen, & Qaim, 2011;Nord, Finberg, & McLaughlin, 2009). Studies affirm-several times over-the relationship between food insecurity, income, housing, fuel prices, the economy, and the presence of social support networks (De Marco, 2007;Kirkpatrick & Tarasuk, 2011;Ruel, Garrett, Hawkes, & Cohen, 2010;Webber & Rojhani, 2010). We know that food insecurity is tied to socioeconomic problems such as poverty, ill health, lack of school, and as such coordinated efforts are needed to address these problems together.…”

“Motherwork” and communicative labor: A gendered analysis of hunger in marginalized US women

“…Women were also more likely to report lower intakes of vegetables and fruit, longstanding health problems, and social isolation. In another study, researchers interviewed 69 families on the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) government food assistance program in southwest Michigan between 2007 and 2008 when retail gasoline prices rose nearly 75% along with food prices (Webber and Rojhani, 2010). Participants noted feeling concerned about their food budgets, shopping less, and purchasing poorer quality foods.…”