Promoting Food Justice and Tobacco Control in Urban Food Deserts: A Case Study of Community Action and Policy Change in San Francisco
Abstract
In food deserts like San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, the high density of tobacco outlets and lack of access to healthy food contribute to high rates of morbidity and premature death among the neighborhoods’ largely... [ view full abstract ]
In food deserts like San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, the high density of tobacco outlets and lack of access to healthy food contribute to high rates of morbidity and premature death among the neighborhoods’ largely low income residents. The many “corner stores” in such neighborhoods are saturated with tobacco, alcohol, sodas and sugary snacks, but typically provide little or no healthy food.
We demonstrate how a broad, community- led coalition, in collaboration with local health department and university partners, helped study and address this problem, beginning the transformation of local retail environments, achieving high level community engagement and helping secure a municipal policy promoting food justice in the city’s poorest neighborhoods.
Drawing on data from a multi-method case study analysis, we describe and analyze the Tenderloin Healthy Corner Store Coalition, from its genesis through its key role in helping craft, pass and implement the policy creating the Healthy Retail SF program. Utilizing point-of-sale data collected before and after eight stores were redesigned through the program, and annual store assessment data collected by the Coalition in two thirds of the Tenderloin’s 70 corner stores, we examine changes in the availability, display and advertising of healthy and unhealthy products. We share initial data showing both improved sales of healthy foods and some decrease in tobacco sales in the Tenderloin’s HRSF stores, plus a “ripple effect” through which dozens of non-HRSF stores have also made health promoting changes that may help reduce neighborhood food insecurity.
Finally, we discuss how food justice coalitions and programs like HRSF can contribute to both environmental justice (fair distribution of environmental hazards and resources for living) and procedural justice, through which community members get a place at the policy-making table, and stay at the table, helping make decisions that affect their lives and the life of their communities.
Authors
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Meredith Minkler
(University of California)
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Jessica Estrada
(Tenderloin Health Corner Store Coalition)
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Jennifer Falbe
(University of California, Berkeley)
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Susana Hennessey - Lavery
(San Francisco Department of Public Health)
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Ryan Thayer
(Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation)
Topic Area
VI. Research and action 6.1 Collaboration; interaction of researchers; stakeholders 6.2 S
Session
EFA-O-09 » Evidence for Action in Policy and Programs (08:00 - Monday, 4th April, TBA)
Paper
Minkler_e_t_al__TL_FINAL_small_font__ISUH_2016.docx
Presentation Files
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