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Other Food Sources

Participants use many other food sources to overcome some of the barriers like inadequate transportation, or lack of quality produce in order to stretch their food dollars. Several people discussed different options to getting specific items not found in the supermarkets, like Farmers' Markets, vegetable/fruit stands, and community or home gardens. People also looked to emergency food as an additional food source.

Though there are no Farmers' Markets within the two zip codes, people traveled not only the Downtown Plaza Farmer's Market, but as far away as 10 miles to the Roseville Auction. Many people at each meeting used the Farmer's Markets as a resource, and said that when transportation was favorable they frequented Farmer's Markets. People liked the benefits of shopping at a Farmers' Market, like using WIC vouchers, and mentioned several times that they wished one could be more accessible. People also said that they bought produce, meat, and fish from vendors on the street. Many people traveled to the vegetable stands off Garden Highway on regular basis. People also bought meat and fish from vendors at various locations. These vendors were said to not have a license but rather sold extra fish leftover from fishing trips. The degree of safe food handling was unknown.

There were also a number of people who mentioned organic foods in the community input groups. Some participants shopped at the Natural Foods Co-op, approximately four miles away, for example, because there was no organic food at the stores in the neighborhood. At least five community or school gardens have been placed in the Del Paso Heights/North Sacramento area which are mostly utilized by Asian and Pacific Islanders residents. Community gardening and home gardening were both mentioned as possible food sources within the community by a small number of people but few actually utilized these resources. A couple of groups named SHARE as a food source. The SHARE Program is a non-profit organization devoted to building community and providing quality groceries through self-help principles. Participants pay $15 in cash or food stamps at the beginning of the month and do two hours of volunteer work and in return receive a nutritious box of groceries at the end of the month that is worth up to $30. Due to distribution schedules, though, it was difficult for some residents to use SHARE as a regular monthly source of food. Several people were interested in delivery services, like Schwann's, a home delivery service that sells meat, fish, and other frozen foods. People using Schwann's with transportation barriers were able to buy in larger quantities. These services usually are more expensive and many require a credit card, though Schwann's does take food stamps. Webvan, a new “full service online grocer” where clients can place an order over the internet and then have food delivered directly to their home, had not yet started service at the time of the community input groups. However it is notable because it is an additional food delivery service available to those with a credit card. Internet access is available at some of the community centers and the Grant Skills Job Center. Webvan could help overcome transportation barriers once Food Stamps change to Electronic Benefit Transfer cards.

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