Program on the Environment

Food insecurity affects households around the world, disproportionately for low-income communities, people of color, seniors, and uneducated individuals. During critical times of funding and program cuts, little research has been conducted to maximize food distribution to the most vulnerable groups, and understanding their barriers is the first step to eliminating them. I chose to research the most underrepresented communities around Seattle neighborhoods, with their household access to food and education opportunities. I partnered with FareStart’s food security team to conduct surveys of customers at their mobile food distribution markets. I interacted with hundreds of people a week who used SNAP, EBT, or Farestart vouchers to buy farm-fresh produce from Washington state farms. I also worked directly in the food system, leading gleaning events at nearby farms and distributing them to their final destination. As a result of 40 survey responses, 27% of customers revealed that transportation was the biggest barrier, but only 12% said transportation would benefit them the most. Education was surprisingly the second largest challenge around Seattle neighborhoods at 17% and revealed to be the highest change in request at 54%. Food distribution programs are constantly at risk, and non-profits are one of the main large-scale solutions to food accessibility. Educational outreach for all stakeholders in the food system is the best way to involve the producer with the consumer. Customers’ most requested resources included knowing where the produce came from, how to cook certain produce, volunteer opportunities, and learning their place in the food system. Education and outreach can serve as a community solution to the lack of research and priority on such a basic necessity.