from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Sophie Hathaway (The Community First Research Center at the U of Mississippi)
In a new JAFSCD article, Food insecurity and barriers to supplemental food provision in the Mississippi Delta: A qualitative analysis, author Sophie Hathaway presents initial findings from a qualitative research study that aimed to understand and document the current barriers to supplemental food provider (SFP) efficacy in the Mississippi Delta. Corresponding author Sophie Hathaway can be contacted at schathaw@olemiss.edu.
The Mississippi Delta has one of the highest concentrations of food-insecure households in the U.S. Supplemental food provision through food pantries, churches, and community action groups has emerged as one avenue to addressing this food insecurity. However, SFPs face operational, external, and relational barriers to maximum efficacy. These barriers influence SFP’s ability to procure and distribute food, adopt feeding models like client-choice, and improve health outcomes in their service areas.
KEY FINDINGS
SFPs in the Mississippi Delta not only fill gaps in feeding but also meet other community needs like emergency funds, resource referrals, health services, and childcare.
Operational barriers, such as limited cold storage, lack of food transportation infrastructure, and building repair issues, are a major source of frustration for SFPs, as these directly limit the number of clients they can serve.
External barriers, like inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic, increased the cost of feeding and the number of people who need supplemental feeding, creating major financial strain for SFPs.
Relational barriers stemming from a lack of trust and understanding, mainly between SFPs and federal programs, resulted in some SFPs opting out of federal funding opportunities despite needing the additional funds.
Most SFPs interviewed were aware of opportunities to improve their community health outcomes by using “under-one-roof” and client-choice service models but did not have the funding, space, or staff to implement these models.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH
This paper highlights how community reliance on SFPs can potentially be leveraged to foster food security, health literacy, and sustainable food access across rural America. However, strong policy and funding support is needed for SFPs to reach their full potential for impact. Further research should consider sustainable funding models for SFPs, developing food distribution infrastructure in rural areas, and the feasibility of creating SFP-based rural health hubs in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
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How do we combat food insecurity in the Mississippi Delta? And what are the barriers to doing so? #foodsecurity #foodpantry #rural Read the full @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.143.019 |
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Photo above: Pallets of donated food being prepared for food pantry client distribution in the Mississippi Delta, USA. Photo by Sophie Hathaway. |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Nataliya Apanovich, Gene Olga King, Ashley Limbaugh, Garrett Smith, and Sandra Bernal (all at the U of Arizona)
This study explores how a collaborative urban gardening initiative in Tucson, Arizona, brought together university students and refugees to address food insecurity and social isolation. Over the course of 10 weeks, participants engaged in shared gardening tasks, sustainability workshops, and cultural exchange activities designed to build connection and resilience. Findings show that this collaboration not only improved food access but also fostered a sense of belonging, agency, and mutual understanding across cultural and generational lines.
In a new JAFSCD article, Socio-cultural benefits of an urban agriculture initiative designed for vulnerable populations in Tucson, Arizona, Nataliya Apanovich, Gene Olga King, Ashley Limbaugh, Garrett Smith, and Sandra Bernal present initial findings from a university-community partnership research study that aimed to explore how collaborative gardening between refugees and university students can address food insecurity, reduce social isolation, and foster a sense of belonging through intercultural connection and shared land stewardship. Corresponding author Nataliya Apanovich can be contacted at apanovich@arizona.edu.
KEY FINDINGS Collaborative gardening increased food access and reduced social isolation for both university students and refugees. Students shifted from relying on others for food to feeling empowered to grow their own, reflecting increased self-reliance and agency. Refugees expanded their social networks beyond their own communities and gained confidence in sharing cultural knowledge.
Both groups developed a stronger sense of belonging through shared tasks, cultural exchange, and connection to place.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH -
Support intercultural urban agriculture initiatives as a way to simultaneously address food insecurity and social isolation in vulnerable populations.
- Institutionalize community gardening programs within universities and refugee support networks to foster cross-cultural connection and community resilience.
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Design garden-based programs with tailored learning opportunities that recognize the diverse experiences, skills, and needs of participants from different cultural backgrounds.
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What happens when refugees and U.S. college students grow food side by side? A Tucson garden became a place for building food security, cross-cultural connection, and a sense of belonging. #urbangardens #refugees #collegestudents #Arizona Read the @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.143.022 |
Photo above: Students and refugees working in an urban garden located on the premises of Iskashitaa Refugee Network, a local nonprofit organization that assists refugees with resettling in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Photo courtesy of Iskashitaa Refugee Network. |
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