Local Food Access Among a Diverse Group of Immigrants and Refugees in North Carolina: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

ObjectiveImmigrant and refugee populations in the U.S. are at increased risk for chronic disease due to dietary changes associated with acculturation. They often have poor access to healthy foods, community organizations and resources. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we explore how to better integrate immigrant and refugee communities into local food systems and adapt Extension resources to meet communities’ needs. Objectives are to determine barriers and assets regarding local food access; establish partnerships with local food and nutrition resources; and implement participant-led projects.Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionCommunity workshops were held with three groups in central North Carolina: Karen refugees from Burma, a diverse population of immigrants from a mosque, and Latino immigrants. Each group helped design and implement a community garden/farming project based on community assets and resources.Outcome Measures and AnalysisQualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 participants and analyzed using thematic coding.ResultsAnalysis reveals that immigrants/refugees shared food produced at the gardens/farms with their communities, thereby increasing community food access. Three lessons learned from this project: community workshops are key to understanding participants’ context and preferences; communities’ food-related cultural practices are vital assets; and building community connections with Extension and other non-profits can help migrants utilize and build upon existing food-related skills. Barriers to participation included time, communication breakdowns, and transportation.Conclusion and ImplicationsTo address dietary acculturation, programs must be adapted for diverse community populations with different experiences and backgrounds in gardening and food production. This research demonstrates that agricultural-based programs may increase access to healthy foods and identifies significant food-based assets among diverse migrant populations.FundingNorth Carolina State University Office of Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development ObjectiveImmigrant and refugee populations in the U.S. are at increased risk for chronic disease due to dietary changes associated with acculturation. They often have poor access to healthy foods, community organizations and resources. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we explore how to better integrate immigrant and refugee communities into local food systems and adapt Extension resources to meet communities’ needs. Objectives are to determine barriers and assets regarding local food access; establish partnerships with local food and nutrition resources; and implement participant-led projects. Immigrant and refugee populations in the U.S. are at increased risk for chronic disease due to dietary changes associated with acculturation. They often have poor access to healthy foods, community organizations and resources. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we explore how to better integrate immigrant and refugee communities into local food systems and adapt Extension resources to meet communities’ needs. Objectives are to determine barriers and assets regarding local food access; establish partnerships with local food and nutrition resources; and implement participant-led projects. Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionCommunity workshops were held with three groups in central North Carolina: Karen refugees from Burma, a diverse population of immigrants from a mosque, and Latino immigrants. Each group helped design and implement a community garden/farming project based on community assets and resources. Community workshops were held with three groups in central North Carolina: Karen refugees from Burma, a diverse population of immigrants from a mosque, and Latino immigrants. Each group helped design and implement a community garden/farming project based on community assets and resources. Outcome Measures and AnalysisQualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 participants and analyzed using thematic coding. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 participants and analyzed using thematic coding. ResultsAnalysis reveals that immigrants/refugees shared food produced at the gardens/farms with their communities, thereby increasing community food access. Three lessons learned from this project: community workshops are key to understanding participants’ context and preferences; communities’ food-related cultural practices are vital assets; and building community connections with Extension and other non-profits can help migrants utilize and build upon existing food-related skills. Barriers to participation included time, communication breakdowns, and transportation. Analysis reveals that immigrants/refugees shared food produced at the gardens/farms with their communities, thereby increasing community food access. Three lessons learned from this project: community workshops are key to understanding participants’ context and preferences; communities’ food-related cultural practices are vital assets; and building community connections with Extension and other non-profits can help migrants utilize and build upon existing food-related skills. Barriers to participation included time, communication breakdowns, and transportation. Conclusion and ImplicationsTo address dietary acculturation, programs must be adapted for diverse community populations with different experiences and backgrounds in gardening and food production. This research demonstrates that agricultural-based programs may increase access to healthy foods and identifies significant food-based assets among diverse migrant populations. To address dietary acculturation, programs must be adapted for diverse community populations with different experiences and backgrounds in gardening and food production. This research demonstrates that agricultural-based programs may increase access to healthy foods and identifies significant food-based assets among diverse migrant populations.