Comparison of Food Security among Hispanic Farmworkers and Non-Farmworkers in North Carolina

Food security is a managed process, negotiated in local places. Economic, or job, stability is key to food security. This analysis describes food security and food strategies of 101 male Hispanic rural farmworkers (guestworkers on H2-A visas) and 71 urban non-farmworkers of mixed employment in North Carolina.  In 2013, participants responded to the USDA Household Food Security Survey module, with reference to the previous three months, and questions about obtaining food.  Farmworkers  were not accompanied by family; food security questions refer only to household adults. High food security was reported by more farmworker (82.2%) than non-farmworker households (64.8%).  Non-farmworker, compared to farmworker, households reported excess marginal (22.5% vs. 11.9%) and combined low/very low food security (12.7% vs. 5.9%).  Over half in both groups obtained most of their food at superstores. Most farmworkers reported shopping weekly, using employer-provided transportation.  Non-farmworkers had more variability in grocery shopping frequency and transportation; 5.6% obtained most of their food from restaurants and food pantries.  Farmworkers accessed flea markets (23% vs. 10%) and farmers markets (18% vs. 3%) more than non-farmworkers.   Non-farmworkers reported more gardening and fishing than farmworkers (32%/15% vs. 10%/9%).  Overall, farmworkers reported food security considerably better than the US in 2012, and non-farmworkers were at levels approximately the same as US households. These findings suggest that the H2A visa program provides farmworkers job stability, reflected in food security, that other Hispanics who may be undocumented are not afforded.  Additional research into the why non-farmworker households are food insecure is warranted. Grant R01 ES008739.