The retail food environment: a rural perspective

Harris, Rebecca R. (2018) The retail food environment: a rural perspective. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Through a series of manuscripts, this thesis has critically reviewed, analyzed and discussed the contextual factors that are significant to measuring and intervening in the rural retail food environment. In order to encourage action and influence change, it is most effective to produce evidence that is meaningful to policymakers, retail owners, and other key stakeholders, guiding them in prioritized and informed decision making. To do this, we need to promote greater transparency in reporting methodology; providing explicit definitions and rationales so that findings are more accessible to knowledge users and can be used to guide future research and policy direction. Reporting on all aspects of the food environment including availability, quality and price as well as the exposure to nutritious and non-nutritious foods are critical to capturing barriers and potential areas for intervention in rural communities. Improving food access in rural communities will require a comprehensive and multisectoral effort. A direct and prioritized approach that addresses the fundamental barriers to food access in rural communities is essential to making impactful improvements in the accessibility of nutritious foods in rural communities and the health and well-being of those who live there.

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