Perspectives on Healthy Food Access: Insights from Food Pantry Leadership in Northern Indiana

Abstract

Food pantries serve as an important resource for many experiencing food insecurity. Many pantries seek to support these individuals by providing nutritious food. However, the quality of food provided is often limited by factors affecting the pantry as well as those experienced by the clients. Through partnerships with Cultivate Food Rescue and Indiana University School of Medicine, our team sought to better understand how food pantries in the greater St. Joseph County community define healthy food, recognize barriers for themselves and their clients, and support healthy food choices from the level of pantry leadership. Our team completed interviews with directors from food pantries between June 2023 and November 2024. These 45-minute semi-structured interviews covered topics including pantry overview, food characteristics, client perceptions, and community partnerships. Qualitative code-based analysis was performed to identify common themes across interviews. From the Cultivate Food Rescue partners contacted, 10 directors participated in interviews. When asked to define healthy food, 90% of directors stated fruits and vegetables often with a preference for fresh produce, 60% identified a form of protein, 20% categorized it as foods that are more filling. They frequently noted challenges obtaining these types of products. Many directors noted their “biggest challenges” to complete the pantry’s mission include funding (50%), storage spaces (30%), vehicle transportation (20%), volunteer power (20%), shelf-life (30%), and appropriately supporting clients (20%). Several directors spoke to barriers related to client’s preference for and ability to utilize healthier food options. From these interviews, nearly all directors noted a desire to provide nutritious food for their clients. However, the most common barriers were related to donations, costs, and storage of the perishable items. Our hope is that these results may support decision making related to acquiring and distributing healthy yet desirable food to those experiencing food insecurity.