ROOM AT THE TABLE - Intersight - University at Buffalo

FOOD AFFORDABILITY
Food is not evenly affordable in different parts of Erie County. 26 For
example, food items sold in the west side of the City of Buffalo cost more,
which is mainly explained by the trend that inner­city neighborhoods are
often served by small independent stores and convenience and pharmacy
chains, rather than supermarkets and grocery stores.
Convenience stores charge more for food than supermarkets and
grocery stores. 27 Buying the exact same foods at different types of stores,
the estimated weekly costs for purchasing food per household of four (two
adults and two children) in Erie County is estimated to be $132.70 for
purchases made at supermarkets, $133.40 for grocery stores, and $162.50
for convenience stores (See Figure 1.7). 28 While supermarket and grocery
stores cost are almost equal, convenience stores charge an extra $30 for the
same food purchased.
Nationally, a household of four spends, on average, $133.20 on food
per week (See Appendix G, Table 2). 29 This number almost equals the cost of
food at supermarkets and grocery stores in Erie County. 30 This suggests that
if a household earning median wages were to purchase food at supermarkets
and grocery stores, if would spend 15 percent of its income on food.
PUBLIC FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Public food assistance programs provide a safety net to curb food
insecurity within the low­income population. The size of these programs
indicates the state of food security within a community. A sizable proportion
of Erie County residents depend on public assistance to meet their food
and nutritional needs. Four major food assistance programs are available
for Erie County residents: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), the Women, Infants, Children program (WIC), Senior Farmers’
Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and the National School Lunch
Program (NSLP).
18
Figure 1.7 – Estimated Weekly Cost of Food
Purchase for Household of Four, Erie County
(Source: Raja, Ma, and Yadav. 2008)
c
LOCAL HIGHLIGHT
Erie County is home to a diverse population. Each
person has his or her own relationship with food
and eating. One local mother’s perspective is that
food is a cultural and sensory experience closely linked
to cherished memories. When interviewed, she said
she values access to nutritious food for her children
and aims to eat in moderation, with an emphasis on
whole and organic foods. She says one way to achieve
this is to purchase locally.
Whether eating in or dining out, she strives to
purchase locally but is sometimes constrained
by the relatively higher costs. She sees
challenges to eating healthy in Western New York
are that many restaurants don’t offer items that are
tasty and also healthy. Citing other places her family
has lived, Erie County, by comparison, lacks a variety
of affordable healthy food destinations. She expresses
a desire for healthier food destinations to feed her
family at a reasonable cost.