Local food hubs in deprived areas: de-stigmatising food poverty?

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the potential of 'local food hubs' to address issues of stigma associated with the use of food banks in urban deprived areas. 'Local Food Hubs' are a relocalised distribution channel, however, like other Alternative Agro-Food Networks (AAFNs), it can be an elite phenomenon for affluent areas and consumers. Our research focuses on the Open Food Network (OFN) local food hubs in order to explore their potential to constitute 'an alternative' to the conventional ways of addressing food poverty. Currently, food banks are the main avenue for accessing food in conditions of food poverty, carrying significant implications of stigmatisation for their users. In this paper, drawing on existing social science research on stigma, we identify the diverse ways 'local food hubs' help overcome as well as reproduce existing discourses and practices of stigmatisation. We conclude that, despite their efforts, as they currently stand, 'local food hubs' are unable to address stigma in food poverty. We suggest that his is due to the specific individual-focused stigma-management strategies they employ, as well as the wider underlying societal structures that cause food poverty, and which local food hubs are unable to address by themselves. We thus propose that addressing the broader structural conditions that cause and reproduce stigma in food poverty is pivotal for 'local food hubs' to be in a position to constitute an AAFN for all.

Assessing Sustainability Priorities of U.S. Food Hub Managers: Results from a National Survey

“…Additionally, our survey data allowed us to explore the diverse strategies food hubs utilize to facilitate access to food for underserved populations within their communities. Two-thirds of food hubs reported donating unsold produce [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]; one-third accept SNAP, WIC, or other food assistance (see [ 62 ] for a critical discussion); others provide subsidized fruits and vegetables, or offer nutrition education programs aimed at preparing healthy meals on a budget. These findings indicate that food hubs adopt a range of strategies to address food insecurity in their communities, while actively collaborating with other organizations focused on improving food security, promoting healthy lifestyles, and reducing food waste.…”

Community food projects, social innovation, and the past

“…CFPs within local food systems are growing considerably on a worldwide scale (Stevenson and Pirog, 2008). In the UK, they embrace all manner of initiatives including food hubs (Psarikidou et al, 2019), food banks and community cafes (Lambie-Mumford, 2019), food museums (Allen, 2012), community growing projects and gardens (Guerlain and Campbell, 2016), and community food waste projects (Facchini et al, 2018).Within these categories, each project is unique, but one way of framing them is to consider their dominant purposes.…”

Circular food systems: a blueprint for regenerative innovations in a regional UK context

“…Food hubs, which aggregate food, typically from local and smaller producers, distributing it to a local customer base, have emerged in the UK as an innovative alternative to the current linear agri-food model dominated by large scale producers, processors, distributors and retailers. Frequently grounded on the principles of open innovation, food hubs are characterised by collaborative working and a focus on effectiveness-orientated agro-ecological principles (Psarikidou et al 2019, Guzman & Reynolds 2019. Whilst food hubs aim towards relocalising the food economy by supporting local food distribution, they can have a variety of meanings within academic literature, community organisations and social enterprises.…”