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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #107923
Title: FOOD SECURITY IN COMMUNITIES

Author
item PITTLER, ARLYN - ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSP
item EUBANKS, GINA - SOUTHERN UNIV COOP EXT PR
item BARRON, JUNE - ALCORN STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Nutrition and Health Status in the Lower Mississippi Delta of AR, LA, & MS
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The measurement of household-level food security has recently gained attention. Food security is defined as ¿access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life and includes at a minimum: a) the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and b) the assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.¿ Food acquisition, a component of food security, can come from the normal food system, private food assistance, and directly or indirectly from government food assistance programs. Food availability (both quantity and quality), accessibility (number of markets and location), and affordability are measures of food security. Transportation, home, or community gardens, hunting, and fishing may contribute to community food systems. Many of the market outlets in the rural Delta area have limited variety and may be devoid of fresh produce; prices on brand-name products appear to be substantially higher than in urban areas. The extent of home production and preservation of food is not known. Rates of food stamp participation are substantially higher in Louisiana and Mississippi than nationally (25 and 29%, respectively, compared to 17% of households for the US). In addition, average food stamp benefits in Arkansas and Mississippi are lower than national averages. Our rural data seem to support national data, indicating that rural Delta counties probably are similar to other rural poor counties in the US with regard to access and affordability of food.