Food Access

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Projects

• Washington State Food System Assessment

  To respond to sustained high rates of food insecurity, food supply chain disruptions, and disproportionate impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Washington via the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has asked the University of Washington to conduct an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks affecting Washington’s food system, with...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

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

• 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

• Food Insecurity and Food Access in Washington State Tribal Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  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

• WAFOOD: Examining the Impacts of COVID-19 and related factors on Food Systems, Food Security, and Food Access in Washington State

  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted multiple components of the food system: food production and food supply chains were destabilized, consumer purchasing power was greatly reduced for many, and new challenges appeared across sectors that persist today. There remains a high need for 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

• Supplemental Materials: Availability and Price of Healthy Food in Seattle by Neighborhood Sociodemographic Characteristics

  The supplementary materials for the published research study entitled, “Availability and Price of Healthy Food in Seattle by Neighborhood Sociodemographic Characteristics” are posted below. The supplemental materials describe the scoring method for the Seattle Healthy Food Survey (Supplementary Table 1), results from a secondary analysis of healthy food access across neighborhoods with different proportions of...

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Social Determinants of Health

• WAFOOD Brief 12 – Food Security and Food Assistance in the Wake of COVID-19: A 4th Survey of Washington State Households

  Published February 16, 2023, this brief focuses on findings from WAFOOD4 (December 2022/January 2023) and examines changes in food insecurity and food assistance in Washington State households as Washingtonians continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and food prices rise. Initial Findings A total of 5,052 Washington State residents responded to the WAFOOD4 survey. Among...

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

• Washington State Food System Assessment Report

  This report was prepared for the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and published online December 14, 2021. Titled The State of the Washington State Food System During COVID-19: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead, the report provides an in-depth assessment of the state of Washington’s food system during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies strengths, weaknesses, and ongoing risks affecting Washington’s food system, as...

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