During my stay in the Twin Cities, I was fortunate enough to schedule a phone discussion with Dr. Melissa Nelson Laska, a faculty research associate for Healthy Eating Research (HER). Based in Minneapolis, HER is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program specializes in researching environmental policy issues relating to nutrition. The majority of my discussion with Dr. Laska focused upon corner stores as they are an important component of the work HER does and obviously very relevant to my internship studies.
From her, I learned that corner stores may be defined according to certain criteria: the numbers of aisles, cash registers, sales, or employees. They can differ by city according to such definitions. HER initially conducted research on corner stores in the Twin Cities area by using such an identification system to determine and target appropriate establishments for study. Following this procedure, HER researchers performed observational work (similar to what I am doing for my internship) on healthy food options within these corner stores. Their results varied, with some stores having a multitude of healthy options for customers while others were severely lacking.
Laska stated that stores lacking healthier foods should not be judged too quickly. She stated that most corner store owners are members of the community themselves and want the community to benefit from their store. However, at the end of the day, the owners must follow an appropriate business model in order to stay in business/make a profit, and healthier foods are often associated with certain risks. Healthier options may need more storage/shelving space, may require special care (fresh produce), or may call for a wealthier customer base to afford such purchases.
Interestingly enough, WIC policy requires that stores carry a certain amount of healthy foods (specifically fruits and vegetables) in order to participate in the program. Minnesota’s HER focuses on training vendors at corner stores in a variety of ways, including awareness of existing food policy/regulations, as well as the possible economic benefits of offering healthy foods and the proper ways to handle certain healthy foods requiring special care.
Laska pointed out that many of the corner stores in the Twin Cities vary in the availability of healthy foods according to ownership. Locally owned stores are less likely to stock healthy options, whereas larger chain models are more prone to carry such foods. The difference can be attributed to better and greater infrastructure, capital, displays, and economies of scale for the chain stores. I found this topic interesting because it is congruent with my observations thus far on the trip. For example, our bicycling group was having a very tough time finding fruits at convenience stores until we arrived in northern Iowa and Minnesota where the Kwik Trips chain has stores. These convenience stores all stocked fruits and vegetables.
An interesting difference between the corner store research I’ve conducted thus far and that of HER in Minneapolis/St. Paul is how certain stores take on different roles according to their urban/rural setting. For example, HER does not identify discount stores like Family Dollar or Dollar General as legitimate corner stores. On the other hand, I’ve found many discount stores in rural areas that would clearly be classified as corner stores. It is intriguing how various businesses take on different roles according to their environment and how researchers employ different definitions on this basis.
Finally, Laska believes that most people are generally aware of basic food availability in corner stores. Communities have become increasingly conscious of corner stores within their towns, but citizens typically lack the resources to promote any major change. The general public certainly has little access to the rigorous research and scholarly publications concerning this issue. Additionally, individuals that hold decision-making power often do not realize or appreciate the significance of issues surrounding corner stores and the individuals and families they affect: racial/ethnic minorities, those with low socioeconomic status, and citizens living in rural areas. A vicious cycle ensues with these groups having higher obesity rates, worse health outcomes relating to nutrition, etc. More research is necessary in order to determine proper methods to effectively promote healthier, affordable food options in corner stores.
Laska also teaches at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. Her research interests include nutrition in adolescents, obesity prevention, and food access in underserved areas. Please read more about Dr. Laska and Healthy Eating Research at the links provided below:
Dr. Laska
Healthy Eating Research
No comments:
Post a Comment