Examining Food Security, Choices and Barriers among Community Supported Agriculture participants during COVID- 19 in Kentucky.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is challenging food security. Our study's purpose was to examine relationships among food security status, eating patterns and perceived barriers to food choices among shareholders (N= 209) in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program during stay-at-home restrictions due to the pandemic. The food insecure group (n= 33) reported lower consumption of fruits/vegetables, whole grains and greater consumption of fast foods and more barriers to food choices compared to the food secure group (p<.05). A low food insecure proportion (16%) among the CSA participants suggests a potential role of a CSA program to prevent food insecurity.