Improved Access to Nutritious Food Drives Behavior Change in Louisville Food Desert

“Food deserts” are communities with limited access to nutritious food. As a community's food options become more unbalanced, with more fast food and less healthy foods, diet-related health problems increase. The 13.7 square mile neighborhood of West Louisville, Kentucky has been defined as a “food desert”. The 78,000 population is mostly low income, African-American, with no cars in 34% of households. There are only two grocery stores, compared to one for every 6,100 people in other areas of the city. Research has not consistently shown a relationship between access to nutritious food and health measures, such as BMI or obesity. It is not proven that people change their eating habits when access barriers are eliminated. New Roots, a non-profit organization in Louisville, is tackling the food desert in West Louisville. Through a partnership with a religious congregation, they opened a CSA-style market in West Louisville throughout the summer of 2009. The program brought locally grown, inexpensive fresh produce (sold in full- or half-shares) to the neighborhood, providing access to nutritious food. A survey was conducted to measure knowledge growth and behavior change due to participation in the project. The nineteen survey questions addressed access, quality, price, eating habits, and behavior change. The results indicate that when quality food is accessible and affordable, communities have an eagerness to improve their eating habits. The research design and data findings will be presented.