Community Food Security - read the Hunger Commission's food access study and download free food access study materials including curriculum for nutrition education workshops.

The following are the barriers that residents of North Sacramento and Del Paso Heights contend with everyday to get food.

• Though there is one large competitively priced retail supermarket in the 95838 zip code, it is unfortunately located on the opposite side of a major freeway, away from the greatest number of people living in North Sacramento and Del Paso Heights. This creates a natural barrier for those who do not have access to a vehicle, as there is no bike path on the overpass and heavy traffic makes walking with children an unattractive option.
• There are four medium sized stores within the two neighborhoods. Unfortunately, many residents' perceptions of these stores are that they are often dirty on the outside (and sometimes the inside), offer little fresh produce or affordable meat and have few competitive shopping values. Throughout the community input meetings, concerns regarding safety, sanitation, quality of food, short operating hours and the incapacity of stores to accept competitors coupons were cited as the main reasons people were spending their food dollars outside of the community. Many residents without their own cars are forced to rely on the local stores for day-to-day items, which can be far more expensive than a major retail chain. One group said that they sometimes walk to the close stores to purchase one or two items to "get by," but try to avoid it.
• Public transportation to affordable stores is time consuming, expensive, and limits the amount of food a person can buy. Drawbacks to taking the bus include bus fare that can cost as much a $3.50 per person, long waits with perishable items and the perceived reluctance of bus drivers to transport individuals with several bags of groceries. One resident complained, "Bus drivers make up stops as they go along. They are not sensitive to the disabled and will leave you if they see you walking with kids or groceries." Regardless of whether this is fact or not, the perception holds true for some residents of the community and, in their frustration, will go to great lengths to circumvent the bus system altogether including using taxi cabs that can cost up to $20 a grocery trip.
• Most participants were extremely dissatisfied with the quality of produce in the area and, when possible, were traveling to Farmers' Markets and grocery stores as much as 10 miles away. One participant remarked, "The quality of fresh fruits and vegetables is not good. We have to either go to another area, or have to go without it."
• There are 11 emergency food sites within the two communities that serve approximately 16,550 bags of food/meals each month. (This figure did not include emergency food sites that serve other zip codes, and may include double client representation).

Structural community changes can effectively break down these barriers, and improve food access.

[Top]