Food Access
Projects
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Washington State Food System Assessment
To respond to sustained high rates of food insecurity, food supply chain disruptions, and disproportionate impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Washington via the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has asked the University of Washington to conduct an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks affecting Washington’s food system, with...
Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten
Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition
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Assessing the Impact and Feasibility of WIC Remote Services and Expanded Food Options
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated barriers to participation in the WIC program, since people were encouraged or required to stay home and grocery stores experienced shortages of food items. Washington State’s WIC program has been actively re-tooling service delivery prior to and at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic to overcome participation barriers. This project...
Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten
Research Area(s): Food Access
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Traditional Foods, Food Sovereignty, and Food Security Among Pacific Northwest Tribal Communities During and After COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected Native communities and their main sources of economic support. Tribal reservations saw higher infection rates compared to neighboring areas, and the closure of gaming and hospitality businesses removed vital economic lifelines. Many Native communities continue to struggle in meeting basic food needs, especially in deprived and geographically remote areas of...
Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten
Research Area(s): Food Access
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WAFOOD: Examining the Impacts of COVID-19 and related factors on Food Systems, Food Security, and Food Access in Washington State
The Washington State (WA) Food Security Surveys (WAFOOD) first launched as an effort to track impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, economic well-being, and food needs of Washingtonians. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, WAFOOD survey waves continued to track the economic well-being, food access, and food needs of Washingtonians in response to swift...
Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten Adam Drewnowski
Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition
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City of Seattle Food Access Spending Farm Economy Analysis
This project measures the economic impact of City of Seattle spending on food access programs on local farmers, and on the local farm economy. The purpose of this report is to measure the economic impact of City of Seattle spending on food access programs on local farmers, and on the local farm economy. This analysis...
Research Area(s): Food Access
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Fish, health, and vulnerable populations: Exploring the Potential for Policy and Diet Solutions
On the US West Coast, rich and underutilized fishery resources exist alongside low income, nutritionally vulnerable populations. This pilot project aimed to examine the potential scope and mechanisms for improved utilization of available seafood to improve diets and reduce incidence of non-communicable disease burdens in poor and marginalized US coastal communities. It had the following...
Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten
Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition, Global Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health
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Evaluation Support for Washington State’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) initiative in Farmers Markets
One barrier to healthy eating for people with low incomes can be the cost of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. The Washington State Department of Health has implemented a statewide large-scale Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) initiative since 2015 to make it easier for low-income participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to...
Project Lead/PI: Donna B. Johnson Jennifer Otten
Research Area(s): Food & Nutrition Policy, Food Access
Recently Added Resources
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WAFOOD Brief 16 – Food Security and Food Assistance in the Wake of COVID-19: A 5th Survey (2024) of Washington State Households
Published February 13, 2025, this brief focuses on findings from WAFOOD5 (August-October 2024) and examines changes in food insecurity and food assistance in Washington State households as Washingtonians continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and high inflation persists. WAFOOD5 was available to be taken in English, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Somali, Tagalog, Ukrainian,...
Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition
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NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Survey Report – Food Security, Food Access, and Traditional Foods across Northwest Tribal Communities in the Wake of COVID-19
Published June 24, 2024, this report shares findings from the NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Survey, the second wave research from a joint project between the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (NWTEC), a division of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, and the University of Washington Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health team that aims to better...
Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health
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WAFOOD Brief 15 – Washington State Food Security Surveys: Longitudinal findings across survey waves 1-4, 2020-2023
Published August 3, 2023, this research brief presents longitudinal findings from WAFOOD Waves 1-4 (June 2020-January 2023), focusing on a subset of 223 respondents who participated in all four waves. Initial Findings In a longitudinal cohort of 223 respondents who participated in WAFOOD Waves 1, 2, 3, and 4, nearly half of respondents’ households experienced...
Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition