(P24-036-23) Hydroponic Farming at Food Pantries in Urban Food Swamps To Improve Fresh Produce Access and Address Food Insecurity: A Qualitative Study

Objectives: Food pantries play an important role in meeting the nutritional needs of food-insecure communities, especially in food swamps where unhealthy food options prevail over healthy ones. Food pantries often depend on private donations, retail partnerships, or food banks to fulfill their fresh produce needs, sources which can be very inconsistent with fruit and vegetable selection and quality. Hydroponic farming lends promise to the idea of a sustainable agricultural system and can provide an elegant solution to diversify the offerings of fresh produce at urban food pantries and promoting community food security, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. This study explores the potential of utilizing hydroponic farming at food pantries in urban food swamps.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with food pantry personnel to determine the current food environment in urban food swamps and the potential of utilizing hydroponic farming at food pantries in those areas. Qualitative data was coded using structured thematic analysis. Themes and sub-themes were identified, and qualitative data were analyzed for frequencies and descriptives.

Results: Seven food pantries were recruited from the Houston, TX, Metro Area. One focus group and six individual interviews were performed with leadership personnel from each food pantry. Six major themes emerged: current availability of food in the neighborhood, current food procurement sources, currently available produce, current nutrition education resources, thoughts about hydroponic farming (crops of interest, logistics, funding), and expected impact of hydroponic farming on infrastructure and stakeholders including staff and clients.

Conclusions: This study characterizes the current food environment in urban food swamps, and opinions and outlook toward hydroponic produce and farming from selected urban food pantries and helps assess acceptability and need for hydroponic farming in urban food swamps.

Funding Sources: United States Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture