Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

2021

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Geography

First Advisor

Darroll Napton

Keywords

Fruits and vegetables, low-income households, accessibility, food system, food insecurity, South Dakota

Abstract

The world is on the cusp of a nutritional crisis: malnutrition, in all its forms, now directly affects one in three persons on the planet. Chronic malnutrition is closely associated with a wide range of public health issues such as stunted growth, increased incidence of disease, school or work absences, and obesity. Access to proper nourishment for food insecure individuals is often evaluated as a measure of distance to market, yet a causal relationship between proximity to food resources and improved health outcomes is unclear. Multiple dimensions of food access influence fruit and vegetable consumption for those who are food insecure in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A mixed method approach was used to determine the importance of spatial access over other factors of accessibility for fresh produce purchases. Results indicate that participants prioritize affordability, convenience, and quality of produce when considering where to shop for fruits and vegetables and are willing to travel outside their neighborhood to meet their needs. Increased cooking time for produce and mental health also influenced consumption. Addressing these issues can enable a more holistic approach to serving the needs of those who are food insecure to achieve a better quality of life through improved nutrition.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Food security -- South Dakota -- Sioux Falls.
Low-income consumers -- South Dakota -- Sioux Falls.
Food supply -- South Dakota -- Sioux Falls.
Nutrition.
Fruit.
Vegetables.

Number of Pages

110

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Download

Share

COinS
 

Rights Statement

In Copyright