Food Access

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Projects

• Assessing the Impact and Feasibility of WIC Remote Services and Expanded Food Options

  The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated barriers to participation in the WIC program, since people were encouraged or required to stay home and grocery stores experienced shortages of food items. Washington State’s WIC program has been actively re-tooling service delivery prior to and at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic to overcome participation barriers. This project...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food Access

• COVID-19 Food Access among American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes in WA State: The value of food sovereignty

  The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and their main sources of economic support. Tribal reservations have seen higher infection rates compared to neighboring areas and the closure of gaming and hospitality businesses has removed some of the vital economic lifelines. Many tribal communities are struggling to meet basic food needs,...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food Access

• Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Systems, Food Security, and Food Access in Washington State

  The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted multiple components of the food system, affecting the food supply and greatly reducing consumer purchasing power. Food production, processing, and delivery systems are experiencing instability. There is an unprecedented need for unemployment benefits, public assistance programs, and food from local food banks. Food systems are changing, perhaps forever, and the...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten Adam Drewnowski

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition

• City of Seattle Food Access Spending Farm Economy Analysis

  This project measures the economic impact of City of Seattle spending on food access programs on local farmers, and on the local farm economy. The purpose of this report is to measure the economic impact of City of Seattle spending on food access programs on local farmers, and on the local farm economy. This analysis...

  Research Area(s): Food Access

• Fish, health, and vulnerable populations: Exploring the Potential for Policy and Diet Solutions

  On the US West Coast, rich and underutilized fishery resources exist alongside low income, nutritionally vulnerable populations. This pilot project aimed to examine the potential scope and mechanisms for improved utilization of available seafood to improve diets and reduce incidence of non-communicable disease burdens in poor and marginalized US coastal communities. It had the following...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition, Global Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health

• Evaluation Support for Washington State’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) initiative in Farmers Markets

  One barrier to healthy eating for people with low incomes can be the cost of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. The Washington State Department of Health has implemented a statewide large-scale Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) initiative since 2015 to make it easier for low-income participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to...

  Project Lead/PI: Donna B. Johnson Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food & Nutrition Policy, Food Access

Recently Added Resources

• Memorandum: Identifying widespread COVID-19 impacts and shifts in the farming sector

  This memorandum summarizes key trends and takeaways identified through discussion with agriculture and food system professionals in Washington State in the fall of 2020. Common themes are presented related to challenges encountered, factors which facilitated or prevented adaptation, and expectations and concerns for the future. Find other publications related to this study on the project...

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition

• WAFOOD Brief 7 – Comparing Food Insecure and Food Secure Washington State Households During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to food. Published January 27, 2021, this spotlight series brief focuses on the 784 (30%) respondent households who were food insecure during the pandemic and contrasts their experience with the 1,730 food secure...

  Research Area(s): Food Access

• WAFOOD Brief 6 – Mapping COVID-19 Risk Factors by King County ZIP Codes

  Published October 30, 2020, this brief points to underlying links between pre-existing economic disparities, obesity, food insecurity, and COVID-19 risk across King County (KC) ZIP codes. Using ZIP code-level data from the WAFOOD survey, King County Tax Accessor, and Public Health Seattle-King County, this brief provides shows that the rate of COVID-19 confirmed cases (positivity)...

  Research Area(s): Food Access