Maiya Ahluwalia¹, Heidi Emery¹, Nicole Steadman¹, David M. Beauchamp², Rachel K. von Holt², Nadia M. Cartwright², Elaina B.K. Brendel², Jennifer M. Monk^2,

Food insecurity is a global public health challenge, with those affected having inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints. This study determined the effectiveness of reducing community food insecurity by implementing a sliding scale payment model approach at a local community food market in Guelph ON, Canada. In this payment model, fresh produce could be purchased at the market within a price range along a sliding scale, wherein lower income customers can confidentially select to pay prices at the lower end of the payment scale, whereas those with higher household incomes can select to pay the higher payment option. In this pilot study, customers of the community food market (n=119) were surveyed to determine their food insecurity status both prior to and after regularly shopping at the food markets, and how using the sliding scale payment model impacted their access to affordable produce. Market attendance was shown to reduce customers self-reported indicators of food insecurity (P<0.05). Additionally, customer household income levels were correlated with the price they paid along the sliding scale; wherein lower and higher income households paid for produce at a corresponding level on the payment scale. These results demonstrate that the sliding scale payment model is supported by the community across household income levels and was successful at reducing customer food insecurity. This model could be implemented in other communities to reduce food insecurity.

food insecurity, community food markets, sliding scale payment, community nutrition