Oasis in the Desert: Comparing the Distribution of Food ... · •43% of food deserts contain at...
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Oasis in the Desert: Comparing the Distribution of Food Deserts to the Distribution of Community Organizations Combating Food Insecurity in Pima County, Arizona The following organizations/initiatives were included on the map: • Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona • Community Gardens of Tucson • Flowers and Bullets • Food Resilience Project • Food in Root • Iskashitaa Refugee Network • Market on the Move • Produce on Wheels without Waste • Southwest Community Center • Tucson Village Farm Purpose The goal of this study was to identify any accommodation gaps between food deserts in Pima County and sites that help to relieve food insecurity. Food deserts constitute the most food-vulnerable areas in a community, specifically regarding access to nutritious options. Thus, it is critical to understand how the various organizations working to increase healthy food accessibility are distributed throughout the community. What is a Food Desert? A food desert is a low-income area characterized by highly limited access to affordable, healthy food options, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods. The USDA defines a food desert in two parts, both by the income of an area and the geographical distance to a provider of healthy, fresh foods, such as a supermarket: Low Access: A significant number (at least 500 people) or proportion (at least 33%) of the population lives 1.0 mile or more from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store in an urban area, or 10 miles or more in a rural area. Low Income: The USDA uses multiple factors to define an area as low income: • The poverty level is 20% or more OR • The median family income is less than 80% of the statewide median family income OR • In a metropolitan area, the median family income is less than 80% of the median family income of the surrounding metropolitan area Methods In order to determine how thoroughly food assistance sites in Pima County are distributed among food deserts, the following procedure was implemented: • Identified ten different food assistance organizations that work in Pima County. • Obtained the coordinates of 139 food assistance sites operated by these organizations. For the purposes of this study, a food assistance site is a location that increases the amount of fresh, healthy food in the community. • Categorized the food assistance sites into six broad types: Farmer’s Market, Food Bank and Distribution, Community Garden, Farm and Garden Education, Produce Distribution, and School. • Used ArcGIS to map the distribution of food assistance sites relative to the distribution of food deserts in Pima County. • In this study, a food desert is a census tract that the USDA defines as low income and low access. The USDA food access data is available at https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/download- the-data/. • Analyzed the map to answer the following questions: • Which type of food assistance site is most commonly found in food deserts? • How thoroughly are food assistance sites distributed among food deserts? How even is this distribution? • Are there food-vulnerable areas in which food assistance sites do not have a presence? Are there vulnerable areas where food assistance sites are heavily concentrated? Organizations on the Map The distribution map includes sites from ten organizations that strive to increase the amount of healthy, fresh food in Pima County. Each organization serves a slightly different mission, but together they produce a more sustainable, economically empowered community. Note: The organizations mapped do not include all food assistance programs affiliated with the government or the University of Arizona. This study was specifically looking at nonprofit and grassroots efforts to increase access to nutritious foods. 11 8% 6 4% 26 19% 26 19% 40 29% 30 21% Food Assistance Sites Percent of Total (139) Farmer's Market Food Bank and Distribution Community Garden Farm and Garden Education Produce Distribution Schools 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 2 2 2 9 4 12 9 4 24 17 36 18 Food Assistance Sites by Category Number Not in Food Deserts Number in Food Deserts 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 18% 33% 8% 35% 10% 40% Percentage of Food Assistance Sites in Food Deserts Results • The average food desert population is 4654 people • Of the 139 food assistance sites mapped, 31 (22%) fall within food deserts. • The category with the most sites is Produce Distribution, at 29% of total sites. • 10% of the Produce Distribution sites fall within food deserts. • The category with the most food desert sites is School (40%). School sites include food pantries and after-school snack/meal programs • All of the School Sites are run by the Community Food Bank • 43% of food deserts contain at least one food assistance site • 0% of rural food deserts have at least one food assistance site • 52% of urban food deserts have at least one food assistance site. On average, each food desert has 2.6 sites • The Community Food Bank operates 44% of the total food assistance sites Categories Farmer’s Market Sites: Includes those that accept SNAP benefits and those that do not. Food Bank and Distribution Sites: Includes food pantries, food box distributors, and meal providers. Community Garden Sites: Includes gardens that require a fee to join and gardens that cater to underserved populations. Farm and Garden Education Sites: Includes school garden programs and urban farms. Produce Distribution Sites: Includes organizations that sell 60 pounds of rescued produce for ten dollars. School Sites: Includes school pantries and after-school snack and meal programs. Each service offers children fresh fruits and vegetables, and other nutritious options. Why Does this Matter? Organizations share a common belief that socioeconomic identity should not define diet. • According to the 2010 Census, 130,313 people in Pima County live in a food desert • Right now, neighborhood determines access to proper nutrition. • Alleviating food insecurity is not merely a matter of education—access is key. • Individual agency and empowerment are critical—not just providing meals, but giving individuals the tools to acquire/produce their own fresh food. • Tucson is a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy. Who benefits from this designation? Conclusion • This study reveals that a large majority of the mapped food assistance sites (78%) do not fall within food deserts. Of those that do, a majority of them are operated by one organization, the Community Food Bank. • The study also suggests that some duplication exists between similar organizations. There are several areas where sites of the same type are positioned close together, while the surrounding area is fairly sparse. • However, there is not enough information about each site to draw conclusions about how effectively the different organizations assist individuals living in food deserts. More research needs to be conducted to determine how each site interacts with the surrounding community. Questions for further study include: • How many people does each site serve? How many of these individuals live in food deserts? • Are there areas that are not deemed food deserts but still demonstrate a high level of need? Do some of the sites not in food deserts target these areas? • What other factors, besides income and distance, affect how much access an individual has to nutritious foods? • At this stage, the research is not prescriptive. However, the access maps can be provided to relevant groups in order to give them insight into how their work functions within the broader network of food assistance organizations in Pima County. • In combination with demographic data about how their sites are used, these organizations could consult the maps when they are deciding where to add more food assistance locations or looking to revise the location of current sites. The map could help them avoid duplication and enable them to focus on the most food-vulnerable areas in Pima County, food deserts.
Transcript of Oasis in the Desert: Comparing the Distribution of Food ... · •43% of food deserts contain at...
Oasis in the Desert: Comparing the Distribution of Food Deserts to the Distribution of Community Organizations
Combating Food Insecurity in Pima County, Arizona
The following organizations/initiatives were included on the map:
• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
• Community Gardens of Tucson
• Flowers and Bullets
• Food Resilience Project
• Food in Root
• Iskashitaa Refugee Network
• Market on the Move
• Produce on Wheels without Waste
• Southwest Community Center
• Tucson Village Farm
Purpose The goal of this study was to identify any accommodation gaps between food deserts in
Pima County and sites that help to relieve food insecurity. Food deserts constitute the
most food-vulnerable areas in a community, specifically regarding access to nutritious
options. Thus, it is critical to understand how the various organizations working to
increase healthy food accessibility are distributed throughout the community.
What is a Food Desert?
A food desert is a low-income area characterized by highly limited access to affordable, healthy food options, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods. The USDA defines a food desert in two parts, both by the income of an area and the geographical distance to a provider of healthy, fresh foods, such as a supermarket:
Low Access: A significant number (at least 500 people) or proportion (at least 33%) of the population lives 1.0 mile or more from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store in an urban area, or 10 miles or more in a rural area.
Low Income: The USDA uses multiple factors to define an area as low income:
• The poverty level is 20% or more OR
• The median family income is less than 80% of the statewide median family income OR
• In a metropolitan area, the median family income is less than 80% of the median family income of the surrounding metropolitan area
Methods
In order to determine how thoroughly food assistance sites in Pima County are distributed among food deserts, the following procedure was implemented:
• Identified ten different food assistance organizations that work in Pima County.
• Obtained the coordinates of 139 food assistance sites operated by these organizations. For the purposes of this study, a food assistance site is a location that increases the amount of fresh, healthy food in the community.
• Categorized the food assistance sites into six broad types: Farmer’s Market, Food Bank and Distribution, Community Garden, Farm and Garden Education, Produce Distribution, and School.
• Used ArcGIS to map the distribution of food assistance sites relative to the distribution of food deserts in Pima County.
• In this study, a food desert is a census tract that the USDA defines as low income and low access. The USDA food access data is available at https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/download-the-data/.
• Analyzed the map to answer the following questions:
• Which type of food assistance site is most commonly found in food deserts?
• How thoroughly are food assistance sites distributed among food deserts? How even is this distribution?
• Are there food-vulnerable areas in which food assistance sites do not have a presence? Are there vulnerable areas where food assistance sites are heavily concentrated?
Organizations on the Map The distribution map includes sites from ten organizations that strive to increase the
amount of healthy, fresh food in Pima County. Each organization serves a slightly
different mission, but together they produce a more sustainable, economically
empowered community.
Note: The organizations mapped do not include all food assistance programs affiliated
with the government or the University of Arizona. This study was specifically looking
at nonprofit and grassroots efforts to increase access to nutritious foods.
11 8%
6 4% 26
19%
26 19%
40 29%
30 21%
Food Assistance Sites Percent of Total (139)
Farmer's Market
Food Bank and Distribution
Community Garden
Farm and Garden Education
Produce Distribution
Schools
05
10152025303540
2 2 2 9
4 12 9
4
24 17
36 18
Food Assistance Sites by Category
Number Not in Food Deserts
Number in Food Deserts
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%
18%
33%
8%
35%
10%
40%
Percentage of Food Assistance Sites in Food Deserts
Results • The average food desert population is 4654 people
• Of the 139 food assistance sites mapped, 31 (22%) fall within food deserts.
• The category with the most sites is Produce Distribution, at 29% of total sites.
• 10% of the Produce Distribution sites fall within food deserts.
• The category with the most food desert sites is School (40%). School sites include food pantries and after-school snack/meal programs
• All of the School Sites are run by the Community Food Bank
• 43% of food deserts contain at least one food assistance site
• 0% of rural food deserts have at least one food assistance site
• 52% of urban food deserts have at least one food assistance site. On average, each food desert has 2.6 sites
• The Community Food Bank operates 44% of the total food assistance sites
Categories
Farmer’s Market Sites: Includes those that accept SNAP benefits and those that do not.
Food Bank and Distribution Sites: Includes food pantries, food box distributors, and meal providers.
Community Garden Sites: Includes gardens that require a fee to join and gardens that cater to underserved populations.
Farm and Garden Education Sites: Includes school garden programs and urban farms.
Produce Distribution Sites: Includes organizations that sell 60 pounds of rescued produce for ten dollars.
School Sites: Includes school pantries and after-school snack and meal programs. Each service offers children fresh fruits and vegetables, and other nutritious options.
Why Does this Matter?
Organizations share a common belief that socioeconomic identity should not define diet.
• According to the 2010 Census, 130,313 people in Pima County live in a food desert
• Right now, neighborhood determines access to proper nutrition.
• Alleviating food insecurity is not merely a matter of education—access is key.
• Individual agency and empowerment are critical—not just providing meals, but giving individuals the tools to acquire/produce their own fresh food.
• Tucson is a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy. Who benefits from this designation?
Conclusion
• This study reveals that a large majority of the mapped food assistance sites (78%) do not fall within food deserts. Of those that do, a majority of them are operated by one organization, the Community Food Bank.
• The study also suggests that some duplication exists between similar organizations. There are several areas where sites of the same type are positioned close together, while the surrounding area is fairly sparse.
• However, there is not enough information about each site to draw conclusions about how effectively the different organizations assist individuals living in food deserts. More research needs to be conducted to determine how each site interacts with the surrounding community. Questions for further study include:
• How many people does each site serve? How many of these individuals live in food deserts?
• Are there areas that are not deemed food deserts but still demonstrate a high level of need? Do some of the sites not in food deserts target these areas?
• What other factors, besides income and distance, affect how much access an individual has to nutritious foods?
• At this stage, the research is not prescriptive. However, the access maps can be provided to relevant groups in order to give them insight into how their work functions within the broader network of food assistance organizations in Pima County.
• In combination with demographic data about how their sites are used, these organizations could consult the maps when they are deciding where to add more food assistance locations or looking to revise the location of current sites. The map could help them avoid duplication and enable them to focus on the most food-vulnerable areas in Pima County, food deserts.
