The role of food gateways at increasing access to alternative retail food outlets

Alternative retail food outlets (ARFOs), places where customers purchase foods outside of traditional supermarkets, grocery stores, or food service establishments, may play a role in improving food access in communities that are food deserts. This study was conducted to understand the way ARFOs function to support food systems and access to fruits and vegetables in low-resource communities. This qualitative study conducted 16 interviews with managers, volunteers, and customers in two produce market ARFOs in a primarily minority urban community. Findings demonstrate that produce market volunteers and customers may act as "food gateways," or an intermediate step in accessing food resources, in their communities by providing transportation to ARFOs, distributing food to isolated community members, and providing advocacy support to ARFOs. Interventions to increase food equity and access via ARFOs should examine how people serving as "food gateways" can assist in improving food access as intermediaries.