Challenges to Food Access Among Lewiston’s African Immigrants

Abstract

compromise, adjustment, and resiliency. This scenario exemplifies how food and access to food is determined by our culture, income, location, and familiarity; and how these accessibility factors determine what foods we eat, how we eat them, and how well our nutritional needs are met. It also illustrates elements of food access that go beyond biological and public health concerns, but touch on the essence of how we are connected to our family, our religion, our community, and our identity. We have been conducting an ongoing community food assessment in Lewiston. In this article, we discuss what we have learned about the particular food needs and assets of this African immigrant population. We consider how these findings may transfer to a better understanding of the unique food needs of other African immigrant populations and the policy implications and ways for guiding community-building decisions. BACKGROUND