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

• WAFOOD Brief 15 – Washington State Food Security Surveys: Longitudinal findings across survey waves 1-4, 2020-2023

  Published August 3, 2023, this research brief presents longitudinal findings from WAFOOD Waves 1-4 (June 2020-January 2023), focusing on a subset of 223 respondents who participated in all four waves.  Initial Findings In a longitudinal cohort of 223 respondents who participated in WAFOOD Waves 1, 2, 3, and 4, nearly half of respondents’ households experienced...

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

• WAFOOD Brief 14 – Washington State Food Security Surveys: Cross-sectional findings from survey waves 1-4, 2020-2023

  Published August 3, 2023, this research brief presents cross-sectional findings from WAFOOD Waves 1-4 (June 2020 – January 2023), with data from the full sample of respondents in each wave. Because the majority of respondents in each wave were new, this brief does not draw conclusions on changes over time. Published July 13, 2023, this...

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

• WAFOOD Brief 13 – Food Access and Economic Well-being: Additional findings from a 4th survey of Washington State households

  Published August 3, 2023, this brief focuses on previously unreported findings from WAFOOD4 (December 2022/January 2023) including data on food access, food consumption, and food expenditures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial Findings A total of 5,052 Washington State residents responded to the WAFOOD4 survey. Among the WAFOOD4 sample, which over-sampled households with lower incomes, many...

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