Food access in rural areas: The role of social grocery stores
研究了社会杂货店这一新型食物援助模式如何改善农村低收入家庭的食物获取，通过法国两个案例评估其在经济、时空、实践和社会文化维度上的优势与局限。
The network of food banks – primarily supported by charity organizations – has expanded significantly across many high-income countries, becoming the dominant response to food insecurity. However, this food aid model faces growing criticism, prompting the emergence of innovations. This paper investigates the potential of one model, the social grocery store, to improve food access for low-income households. We design a conceptual framework that encompasses various dimensions of food access – economic, spatiotemporal, practical, and socio-cultural – and apply it to two case studies of social grocery stores, France's most widespread alternative model of foodbanking, in rural areas. The research draws on data on users' experience collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observation to evaluate the strengths and limitations of social grocery stores across these dimensions. Our results show that social grocery stores effectively address several shortcomings of traditional food banks. For instance, offering food at reduced prices improves diet quality while mitigating the shame often associated with receiving free food. Additionally, workshops and social activities help reduce stigma and foster mutual support among users. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including limited opening times and reliance on the dominant agro-food system for food supply. The study also explores how rural contexts can intensify barriers to food aid, due to the heightened social visibility in small communities and the logistical challenges of travelling long distances. These results underscore the need for a food access approach that integrates both individual and territorial drivers.