scholarly journals Food availability and accessibility in the local food distribution system of a low-income, urban community in Worcester, in the Western Cape province

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ja Roos ◽  
Ga Ruthven ◽  
Mj. Lombard ◽  
Mh McLachlan
Keyword(s):  
Food Availability ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Western Cape Province

scholarly journals Implementation of the HealthKick intervention in primary schools in low-income settings in the Western Cape Province, South Africa: a process evaluation

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anniza de Villiers ◽  
Nelia P. Steyn ◽  
Catherine E. Draper ◽  
Jillian Hill ◽  
Lucinda Dalais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Western Cape Province

scholarly journals Knowledge and perceptions of risk for cardiovascular disease: Findings of a qualitative investigation from a low-income peri-urban community in the Western Cape, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Surka ◽  
Krisela Steyn ◽  
Katherine Everett-Murphy ◽  
Thomas A. Gaziano ◽  
Naomi Levitt
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Community Screening ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Background: South Africa currently faces an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease. Although referred to clinics after community screening initiatives, few individuals who are identified to be at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease attend. Low health literacy and risk perception have been identified as possible causes. We investigated the knowledge and perceptions about risk for cardiovascular disease in a community.Method: We conducted a series of focus group discussions with individuals from a low incomeperi-urban community in the Western Cape, South Africa. Different methods of presenting risk were explored. The data were organised into themes and analysed to find associations between themes to provide explanations for our findings.Results: Respondents’ knowledge of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors varied, but most were familiar with the terms used to describe cardiovascular disease. In contrast, understanding of the concept of risk was poor. Risk was perceived as a binary concept and evaluation of different narrative and visual methods of presenting risk was not possible.Conclusion: Understanding cardiovascular disease and its risk factors requires a different set of skills from that needed to understand uncertainty and risk. The former requires knowledge of facts, whereas understanding of risk requires numerical and computational skills. Without a better understanding of risk, risk assessments for cardiovascular disease may fail in this community.

Short food supply chain between micro/small farms and restaurants

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (8) ◽  
pp. 1722-1734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Paciarotti ◽  
Francesco Torregiani
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Production Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the strength and weakness connected to the implementation of a local food logistics services, designed to facilitate and enable the use of local food among restaurants. Design/methodology/approach A total of 60 restaurateurs located in a small Italian city and 100 owners of micro and small-sized farms, located within a 30 km radius from the city, have been interviewed. The collected data have been analysed through descriptive analysis and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests for differences between gender, production type and business size. Findings The results agree with existing literature: poor communication and an unstructured logistics limit the interaction among actors. However, significant for the purpose, the data show that producers are interested in expanding their market and restaurateurs are interested in a broader supply of local products, and they both open to a logistics service that improves the supply of local food. Research limitations/implications The following exploratory study is based on a sample of farmers and restaurants in a specific area so the results could not be generalised in a national/international context. Practical implications The logistics service objective is the promotion of a sustainable territory development in support of the social economy values. Originality/value The study investigates this issue focussing on a practical solution of local food distribution system among restaurants. The logistics service tends to solve the logistics criticalities maintaining the principles of the short food supply chain.

scholarly journals Improving Food System Connectivity: Using Mobile Technology to Leverage Community Partnerships and Strengthen Local Food Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 569-569
Author(s):  
Dahiany Zayas Toro ◽  
Kelley Koeppen ◽  
Emma Lewis ◽  
Lisa Poirier ◽  
Nina Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Community Partnerships ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Corner Store ◽  
Corner Stores

Abstract Objectives In low-income areas of Baltimore, corner stores are common food sources yet often lack fresh produce. Corner stores are uniquely positioned in the urban food system and offer an opportunity to intervene on the supply chain. However, there is a critical gap in our understanding of the local food distribution network and the best strategies for provisioning corner stores with produce. We sought to inform the development of the Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) mobile application (app), which moves fresh produce from local suppliers to corner stores. We sought to: (1) identify existing networks of local food distribution; (2) explore barriers to increasing fresh produce access within the local food system; and (3) evaluate the potential for sustainability of the BUD app. Methods Secondary data analysis of in-depth interviews (n = 17) conducted in 2016 among local food environment experts, corner store owners, distributors, and wholesalers was completed with the purpose of understanding existing networks of local food distribution, and barriers to increasing food access among stakeholders in the Baltimore food environment. Primary data collection was conducted in 2020–2021 with local stakeholders (n = 10) to confirm and expand upon these findings. Results Existing community distributor partnerships with corner stores and producers contribute to local food networks. Community food distributors with an established connection to wholesalers and urban farmers offer more direct access to fresh produce, but delivery is costly for corner stores. The BUD app could facilitate the arrangement of collective delivery services between distributors, urban farmers and corner stores. Potential barriers include a lack of demand for produce from consumers and a need for community engagement to be incorporated into the app. Conclusions Our findings suggest that enhancing community partnerships is a viable method for distributing fresh foods to local corner stores in Baltimore. Further research is needed to identify ways to increase consumer demand for these foods at the corner store level, and to strengthen the local food distribution system in Baltimore. Funding Sources NHLBI, NIH, award number R34HL145368.

scholarly journals The Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) App: Study Protocol for A Food Systems Intervention

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Gittelsohn ◽  
Emma C. Lewis ◽  
Nina M. Martin ◽  
Siyao Zhu ◽  
Lisa Poirier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
High Sodium ◽  
Extensive Evaluation ◽  
Corner Stores ◽  
Systems Intervention

Abstract Background: Low-income urban communities in the United States commonly lack ready access to healthy foods. This is due in part to a food distribution system that favors the provision of high-fat, high-sugar, high-sodium processed foods to small retail food stores, and impedes their healthier alternatives, such as fresh produce. Methods: The Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) study is a multi-level, multi-component systems intervention that aims to improve healthy food access in low income neighborhoods of Baltimore, Maryland. The primary intervention is the BUD application (app), which uses the power of collective purchasing and delivery to affordably move foods from local producers and wholesalers to the city’s many corner stores. We will implement the app in a sample of 38 corner stores, randomized to intervention and comparison. Extensive evaluation will be conducted at each level of the intervention to assess effectiveness via process and impact measures on suppliers, corner stores, and consumers. Discussion: BUD represents one of the first attempts to implement an intervention that engages multiple levels of a local food system. The design of the intervention and the evaluation plan of the BUD project are documented here.Trial registration #: #### (register since not yet recruiting)

scholarly journals Multi-Level, Multi-Perspective Formative Research to Develop a Mobile Application to Improve Healthy Food Access in Low-Income Urban Settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 559-559
Author(s):  
Emma Lewis ◽  
Lisa Poirier ◽  
Kelley Koeppen ◽  
Dahiany Zayas-Toro ◽  
Antonio Trujillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Food System ◽  
Formative Research ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Corner Stores ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Objectives Small urban corner stores typically have low access to healthy foods to stock due to an inadequate food distribution system. Strategies to increase access to healthier foods are needed in low-income urban settings where consumers depend on these stores to meet their main food shopping needs. We conducted multi-level, multi-perspective formative research and user-centered design to inform the development of the Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) mobile application (app), which aims to provide a sustainable, cost-effective, and culturally-acceptable strategy for purchasing and delivering fresh produce to corner stores through local suppliers within the Baltimore City food system. Methods In-depth interviews (N = 36) were conducted across multiple stages of formative research with increasing refinement of the BUD app design. Stakeholders included producers (n = 5), wholesalers (n = 12), representatives of city agencies (n = 4), and corner store owners (n = 15). Future research will include community members. Data were collected regarding participants’ role within the local food system and feedback was elicited during a researcher-led demonstration of a prototype app. Results Stakeholders at multiple levels of the food system found the BUD app to have high feasibility (acceptability, operability, perceived sustainability). In-depth interviews revealed that suppliers (producers, wholesalers) were willing to use the app but had concerns about transportation and storage of produce. Corner store owners desired features such as in-app collaborative purchasing and low-cost delivery. City agency representatives emphasized the need to focus on promotion of local suppliers. Limitations included language barriers and payment security. Strengths included options for networking within the app. Conclusions The BUD app aims to provide a digital solution to address a critical gap in the food distribution system in a low-income urban setting. Multi-level, multi-perspective formative research that is user-centered is a crucial first step to developing a feasible app that appropriately addresses the needs of the community. Future research demonstrating the BUD prototype to stakeholders will enable further development of the app for use in Baltimore and other cities nationwide. Funding Sources NHLBI, NIH, award number R34HL145368.

scholarly journals Climatic Changes and Household Food Availability in Malaysian East Coast Economic Region

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Chamhuri Siwar ◽  
Abdul Hamid Jaafar ◽  
Basri Abdul Talib
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Local Market ◽  
Economic Region ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Distribution Process ◽  
Household Food Availability

Sustainable food security at household level is one of the emerging issues for all nations. There are several factors such as social, economic, political, demographic, natural, and livelihood strategies that causes to the vulnerability of the status of household food security. Therefore examining the vulnerability of these factors is essential to identify the reason and recognize the most vulnerable communities. This study is an attempt to study on the vulnerability of the factors of household food availability and its linkage with climatic changes in Malaysia. The study is based on primary data collected in the months of July – October, 2012 through a questionnaire survey on 460 low income households from East Coast Economic Region (ECER) in Malaysia. The samples were selected from E-Kasih poor household database, based on cluster random sampling technique. The study found that the vulnerability of the factors of household food availability has decreased statistically significantly over the last five years period in Malaysia for the factors of effectiveness of food distribution process, road and transportation facility for food distribution process, availability of expected food in the local market, sufficiency of expected food in the local market, and stability of food supply in market. The mean values of the current status of the factors of household food availability differ significantly at 1% significance level from the scenario of 5 years ago. However, most of the cases climatic issues were found less responsible for the changes of these factors. Though Malaysia is adversely affected by climatic change, the factors of food availability are not affected yet remarkably. This study suggests that the food security programs need to be integrated with climatic change adaptation programs to ensure more effective and sustainable household food security in future, especially among the poor and low income group. Moreover, a proper monitoring agency is required to ensure consistent supply of food in the rural and remote areas, especially at the time of natural calamity or off season.

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