Understanding Neighbourhood Food Access: Practices and Perspectives of Residents of Scarborough Village, Toronto by Rebecca Clare Jacobs A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Geography and Planning University of Toronto © Copyright by Rebecca Clare Jacobs 2017 Understanding Neighbourhood Food Access: Practices and Perspectives of Residents of Scarborough Village, Toronto Rebecca Clare Jacobs Master of Arts Department of Geography and Planning University of Toronto 2017 Abstract Within food access research, little attention has been given to the perspectives and practices of residents in food insecure neighbourhoods. Taking a people-centred approach and using semi- structured interviews, this thesis explores food access through the day-to-day practices, strategies, challenges, perspectives, and emotions of residents of Scarborough Village, a low- income and food insecure urban neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada. The findings of this research are used to argue that including the voices of those commonly marginalised in the decision-making process of neighbourhood food environments is an important and valuable step towards a more just food system. To include these voices, more urban food access research and action needs to shift its approach from simplistic understandings of food security toward more comprehensive understanding of food access based on the concepts of food justice and food sovereignty. Only by doing so will urban food access research realise the often complex, context- specific needs of those it seeks to assist. ii Acknowledgments This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC); The Government of Ontario; and the University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Sciences. Thank you to my supervisor, Dr. Thembela Kepe, for constant guidance and support, and to my committee members Dr. Sarah Wakefield and Dr. Sharlene Mollett. Thank you to my family, friends, and colleagues at work and at the University of Toronto for encouraging and inspiring me along the way. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii List of Appendices ....................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................1 1.1. Area of Research ..................................................................................................................3 1.2. Food Discourses ...................................................................................................................4 1.3. Food Access in Toronto .......................................................................................................7 1.4. Research Approach ............................................................................................................10 Chapter 2 A Framework of Justice ................................................................................................12 2.1. Understanding Justice ........................................................................................................13 2.2. Seeking Justice in the Food Literature ...............................................................................14 2.2.1. Food Security .........................................................................................................15 2.2.2. Food Justice and Sovereignty ................................................................................16 2.3. Practicing a Theory of Justice ............................................................................................17 Chapter 3 Methods: Understanding Food Access from Residents’ Perspectives and Practices ....20 3.1. Positionality of the Researcher ..........................................................................................20 3.2. Using Reflexivity ...............................................................................................................23 3.3. Area of study ......................................................................................................................23 3.4. Personal Observation .........................................................................................................25 3.5. Interview Recruitment .......................................................................................................26 3.6. The Interview Process ........................................................................................................28 3.7. Transcribing the Data .........................................................................................................30 3.8. Coding the Data .................................................................................................................31 3.9. Mapping the Data ...............................................................................................................32 iv 3.10. Writing Up ........................................................................................................................33 Chapter 4 Usage and Understandings of Scarborough Village’s Food Environment ...................34 4.1. Demographics of participants ............................................................................................34 4.2. Participant Demographics vs. Neighbourhood Demographics ..........................................36 4.3. Stores, Markets, and Food Banks ......................................................................................43 4.4. Eating Out ..........................................................................................................................44 4.5. Decision-Making and Coping Strategies ...........................................................................47 4.6. Challenges, Barriers, and Frustrations ...............................................................................49 4.7. Incentives, Motivations, and Enjoyment ...........................................................................50 4.8. Dietary Need and Health ....................................................................................................51 4.9. Pricing and Value of Food .................................................................................................52 4.10. Transportation ..................................................................................................................53 4.11. Sentiments and Emotions .................................................................................................54 4.12. Potential Changes and Improvements ..............................................................................55 4.13. Unique Findings from the Scarborough Village Case Study ...........................................56 Chapter 5 Discussion and Conclusion ...........................................................................................63 5.1. Comparing the Literature: Toronto and Beyond ................................................................64 5.2. Limitations of the Literature ..............................................................................................68 5.3. From Food Security to Food Justice and Sovereignty .......................................................70 5.3.1. Geographic Proximity and Practices ......................................................................71 5.3.2. Quality food ...........................................................................................................73 5.3.3. Relative Food Access and Food Choice ................................................................74 5.3.4. Transparency and Trust..........................................................................................75 5.4. Taking Action ....................................................................................................................77 5.5. Conclusions ........................................................................................................................78 References ......................................................................................................................................80 v Appendices .....................................................................................................................................89 vi List of Figures Figure 1: Location of Scarborough Village, Toronto Source: Neighbourhood Demographic Estimates, Scarborough Village. City of Toronto: 2011.............................................................. 24 Figure 2: Scarborough Village - Political Borders Source: Neighbourhood Demographic Estimates, Scarborough Village. City of Toronto: 2011.............................................................. 25 Figure 3: Participant Gender n=30 ................................................................................................ 36 Figure 4: Gender – Scarborough Village City of Toronto, 2011 n=16,609 .................................. 36 Figure 5: Population Age Research