JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Sara McPhee-Knowles (Yukon U and U of Saskatchewan) and David Gatensby (Yukon U)
Food insecurity increased in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the remote and sparsely populated Yukon Territory, the Whitehorse Food Bank expanded its scope as smaller Yukon communities requested deliveries of emergency food while travel restrictions were in place.
In a new JAFSCD article, “Food insecurity in Yukon communities during COVID-19
A qualitative study,” Sara McPhee-Knowles (corresponding author) and David Gatensby present the results of their interviews with food bank clients in Whitehorse and two smaller Yukon communities, as well as representatives of other organizations involved in community food security initiatives. This project highlights the lived experiences of Yukoners accessing food bank services during a unique time period, along with the community-based perspectives of those working in organizations involved in food security.
KEY FINDINGS
This study revealed shared client experiences and impacts from the pandemic, along with five main themes:
- The food bank hamper as core food on an ongoing basis;
- The importance of traditional foods;
- Food insecurity and access;
- The role of the Whitehorse Food Bank in supporting informal networks in communities; and
- Ideal food situations that focus on an abundance of fresh and land-based foods.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH
The main recommendation for this research is that merely increasing access to income, a common policy recommendation to alleviate food insecurity, will not completely address the problem if there is limited access to fresh, preferred foods in remote communities.
Governments have a role to play in addressing food security, and policy responses should also address access to housing and transportation as these are linked to food security.
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How was Yukoners’ access to food affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? A new study published in JAFSCD highlights residents’ lived experiences in remote rural communities. Read for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.131.015
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How was Yukoners’ access to food affected by the COVID-19 #pandemic? There’s a new study from @YukonUniversity & @USask. #Yukon #NorthernCanada #FoodSecurity #Research Read the @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.131.015
