Food Access and Affordability Survey 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey 2023 Results

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Contents

Executive Summary

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Key Findings

3

Introduction – What is Food Security?

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Food Security in Grande Prairie

6

Survey Overview

7

Methodology

7

Limitations

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Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results

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Recommendations

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Short-Term Actions

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Long-Term Goals

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Conclusion

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Appendix

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Executive Summary In the recent Food Access and Affordability Survey, 2,188 residents from Grande Prairie and the surrounding area participated, shedding light on critical issues surrounding food security in our community.

The survey data revealed that many households are grappling with the high cost of food, with 16.04% of residents considering it “very expensive,” 41.45% finding it “expensive,” and 39.71% stating that “some foods are affordable, and some are expensive.”

Furthermore, 19.13% of residents often face problems affording food, and an additional 39% occasionally face such challenges. Notably, 33.38% of residents spend more than $200 per week on groceries.

Overall, the survey underscores the urgent need for action to improve food security in Grande Prairie and area. This urgency is evident in the community’s self-assessment, where residents rated our food security level at 4.8 out of 10.

This report does more than just present survey data; it provides additional context and actionable recommendations. These insights are intended to inform policymakers and assist the efforts of the Food Access and Security Taskforce (F.A.S.T.) in developing a comprehensive Food Security action plan for our community.

Key Findings Number of Participants

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Food Prices

2,188 residents participated in our Food Access & Affordability Survey.

57.49% of Grande Prairie and area residents are finding food is expensive or very expensive.

Pet Food Affordability

Food Security Rating

6.18% of households occasionally face problems affording food for their pets.

On a scale of 1 to 10, the community rates food security at a 4.8.

Food Affordability

Food Spending

19.13% of Grande Prairie Households often face problems with affording food.

33.38% of households spend more than $200 per week on groceries.

Food Accessibility

Food Loss & Waste

60% of households have individuals requiring specialty foods.

70.45% of residents find that 10-30% of the food they purchase spoils or expires before they use it.

Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Introduction – What is Food Security?

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” 1 Access to healthy, nutritious food is not just important for staying alive but also for helping us live our best lives. Even though organizations like UNESCO and the Federal Government have set goals of achieving zero hunger by the year 2030 2 , too many people in Canada and Alberta still struggle with food insecurity. Food insecurity is when people do not have access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet their needs. In fact, the number of individuals facing food insecurity is increasing at an alarming rate due to the rising cost of food.3 Food inflation is caused by many different factors including lack of competition between grocery stores; supply chain issues related to labour shortages, COVID-19, and global conflicts; rising fuel costs; climate change events (floods, droughts, fires); and taxes. 4 Despite the underlying causes of food inflation, food insecurity has very real, negative consequences, primarily on an individual’s health. Individuals facing food insecurity have a shortened life expectancy, and they are more likely to be hospitalized serious health conditions. Food insecurity is also linked to poor mental health. 5 When examining a community’s level of food security, it is important to look at all the different variables that impact food security: the 6 As of Food Security.

The 6 As of Food Security are affordability, accessibility, availability, adequacy, awareness, and appropriateness.6

1 World Food Summit (1996), What is food security?, The World Bank, https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/foodsecurity-update/what-is-food-security 2 Government of Canada (January 4, 2023), Sustainable development goal 2: Zero hunger, Employment and Social Development Canada, https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/agenda-2030/zero-hunger.html 3 PROOF (May 2, 2023), New data on household food insecurity in 2022, https://proof.utoronto.ca/2023/new-data-on-household-foodinsecurity-in-2022/ 4 Dalhousie University, University of British Columbia, University of Guelph, & University of Saskatchewan (2022), Canada’s food price report, https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/sites/agri-food/Canada%27s%20Food%20Price%20Report%202023_Digital.pdf 5 PROOF (n.d.), What are the implications of food insecurity for health and health care?, https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/whatare-the-implications-of-food-insecurity-for-health-and-health-care/ 6 Halifax (2023), Step 1 – Learning about community food security, Regional and Community Planning, https://www.halifax.ca/abouthalifax/regional-community-planning/halifax-food-action/community-food-assessment-toolkit-0

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

The 6 As of Food Security

Affordability

In a food secure community, every resident should be able to afford adequate amounts of healthy food without relying on emergency food providers and without sacrificing other necessities.

Accessibility

Healthy food should be accessible to all residents of the community, and it should be easy for residents to get to food providers.

Availability

While the selection of food available may depend on the preferences and choices of independent food producers and distributors, healthy, fresh foods should be available year-round.

Adequacy

Community residents should have access to high quality, nutrient dense foods that meet their needs.

Awareness

Community residents should be aware of their local food system, including food supports. They should be able to access educational materials and programs on healthy food and diets as well develop cooking skills.

Appropriateness

The food available needs to be appropriate to meet the needs of different diets, including those with allergies or restrictions based on health concerns, or those who require specific food based on culture, religion, tradition, or preference.

While the Food Access and Affordability Survey’s primary focus was to gather data regarding food affordability and accessibility in our community, some questions were designed to touch on the other aspects of food security. The survey is only one of many methods being utilized to collect the information needed to inform the development of a community-centered, food security action plan.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Security in Grande Prairie Food security is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in Alberta. According to the PROOF report, “New Data on Household Food Insecurity in 2022” 7, approximately 22% of Albertans are experiencing food insecurity. To address this growing concern, the Food Access and Security Taskforce (F.A.S.T.) was established in Grande Prairie, replacing the previous Food Security Committee. This initiative also emerged in response to the rapid, escalating demand for food assistance from local food banks and the Community Kitchen.

F.A.S.T. is a collaboration of key stakeholders from organizations such as the Salvation Army Food Bank, Khwahish Foundation, GAPS in the Peace, the City of Grande Prairie, Alberta Health Services, and the Rotary Clubs of Grande Prairie. To comprehensively understand the local food environment and its challenges, the taskforce decided to undertake a Community Food Assessment, drawing inspiration from Halifax’s successful “Community Food Assessment Toolkit” 8.

This important first step in the assessment was made possible through financial contributions from the City of Grande Prairie and the Rotary Clubs of Grande Prairie, enabling the taskforce to conduct a survey of Grande Prairie and area residents. The amount of interest that the survey generated, further emphasized that our community is concerned about food affordability and accessibility.

While the survey did attempt to gather data from non-profit, charitable food providers, and commercial food retailers, these survey response rates were low. Nevertheless, the taskforce is committed to moving forward, and the next phase of the Community Food Assessment will involve conducting engagement sessions to gather more feedback, information, and ideas from local businesses and non-profit organizations.

Ultimately, the effort put into all components of the Community Food Assessment will inform the development of a local Food Security action plan with the goal of improving the level of food security in our community.

7 PROOF (May 2, 2023), New data on household food insecurity in 2022, https://proof.utoronto.ca/2023/new-data-on-household-foodinsecurity-in-2022/ 8 Halifax (2023), Community food assessment toolkit, Regional & Community Planning, https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regionalcommunity-planning/halifax-food-action/community-food-assessment-toolkit

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Survey Overview — Methodology The methodology used for the survey involved the following key steps: 1 — F.A.S.T. Committee Preparations Prior to releasing the survey, the Food Access and Affordability Taskforce (F.A.S.T.) met to map and discuss the available community food resources. This step was important in gaining insight into what the community is already doing to support food insecurity.

2 — Survey Question Development The survey questions were designed using Halifax’s Community Food Assessment Toolkit as a starting point. However, questions were adjusted or added to better align with the needs of our community.

While acknowledging the complexity of food security, the survey questions do primarily focus on food affordability and accessibility. Please see the Appendix for a full list of survey questions.

3 — Survey Platform The City of Grande Prairie administered the survey primarily through the Survey Monkey platform, this ensured a secure and efficient process for data collection. The exception being that the City of Grande Prairie’s Home Support clients were provided the opportunity to complete a paper copy of the survey. The survey was launched on June 13th, 2023, and closed on July 11th, 2023.

4 — Response Rate The initial goal was to collect 1,000 responses to the household survey. However, the community’s goal exceeded our expectations, with 2,188 participants received, more than doubling the original target. This high response rate provides our survey with a confidence level of 99% and a relatively small margin of error, approximately 3%. 9 5 — Participation Incentive To encourage resident participation, an incentive was offered. Respondents that completed the survey were provided with the opportunity to submit their name to enter a draw for a $500 gift card for gas and groceries. Congratulations to our lucky winner Erika Rolling!

6 — Community Support: Recognition is extended to various community organizations, schools, businesses, and dedicated committee members who played a vital role in sharing the survey within the community. This support proved instrumental in making the survey a success and deepening our understanding of food security in Grande Prairie and the surrounding areas.

7 — Analysis and Report Writing It is important to note that the City of Grande Prairie was solely responsible for the analysis of the survey data and the development of this final report.

9 This is calculated using both the combined population of both the city of Grande Prairie (64,141 residents) and the Grande Prairie County No. 1 (23,769), which is 87,910 according to Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census Profile.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Limitations Surveys, as with any research method, are subject to limitations. While we can be quite confident due to our sample size that the survey responses represent the feelings and experiences of most residents in Grande Prairie and area, there are numerous variables that could have impacted the survey responses received. Due to the nature of the survey, the following are some of the possible limitations that we have identified that may have had an impact on the results collected: 1 — Respondent Bias Respondent bias occurs when survey participants provide answers that may not accurately reflect their true opinions or experiences, or that the survey only attracts respondents with strong opinions on the subject. Furthermore, the sensitive nature of some questions regarding personal finances and affording food, combined with subjective response options, may have led some residents to under or over report the severity of their situation. However, because the responses we received to some questions compare well with data collected from other sources, we feel the data provides a good representation of residents’ opinions and experiences.

2 — Automated Bots and Incentives: The promise of a prize entry can attract more automated bot responses or respondents who may not genuinely belong to the target population. This can introduce response bias and affect the reliability of the data. While every attempt was made to control for bots and delete their responses, there is a chance that a few disingenuous responses were collected, but not enough to impact the survey results.

3 — Unequal Digital Access This was primarily an online survey, but not all residents have equal access to digital devices or the internet. This has the potential to underrepresent demographics with less digital access, such as seniors or low-income households. An attempt was made to collect data from individuals that required support by setting up booths in two different locations and connecting with individuals inperson through the City of Grande Prairie’s Home Support program.

4 — Non-mandatory Questions To encourage respondents to complete the survey, we did not make all the multiple-choice questions mandatory and open-ended questions were optional. Therefore, some questions did have less than 2,188 responses. Allowing respondents to skip certain questions can lead to missing data. This may affect the completeness of the dataset and introduce potential bias if those who skip questions differ systematically from those who answer all questions. However, we did make it so essential affordability questions could not be skipped, and the average number of responses received for all multiple-choice questions was still 1,935.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

5 — Non-response Bias Non-response bias occurs when certain groups or individuals are less likely to participate in the survey. If these non-respondents differ significantly from survey participants, the survey results may not accurately represent the entire population. Overall, our survey seems to have captured information from a variety of demographics except for immigrants that are not Canadian citizens.

Additional information will be gathered to determine the level of food security within the newcomer immigrant community.

6 — Geographic Area Expanding the survey beyond Grande Prairie’s city limits, in this case, residents of the surrounding areas, can introduce variability in responses. However, we believe that food security is a regional issue, and we did not want to exclude residents from the surrounding areas who we know routinely purchase food and groceries within city limits.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 1 — What is the household size of the Grande Prairie and area residents who participated in the survey?

This question provides us with a snapshot of residents’ living arrangements: 29.02%

Nearly 30% are members of two-person households (29.02%).

24.18%

live in four-person households.

19.84%

live in three-person households.

11.15%

live in one-person households.

10.05%

live in five-person households.

5.76%

live in 6+ person households.

How many people currently live in your household?

11.15%

29.02% 19.84% 11.15%

10.05% 5.76%

Did you know? In Canada, families with children are more likely to experience food insecurity, with 42.6% of individuals experiencing food insecurity living in female lone-parent families. 10 2 — In an average week, where do Grande Prairie and area residents buy or find food?

In Grande Prairie and area, residents primarily get their food from the following sources: Grocery Stores

98.41% of residents rely on grocery stores as their primary food shopping destination.

Fast Food Restaurants

30.69% of residents often rely on the convenience of fast food.

Discount Stores

26.61% of residents rely on discount stores to find affordable food options.

Specialty Shops

18.54% of residents frequent specialty shops like butcher shops or bakeries.

Sit-down Restaurants

16.29% of residents regularly dine out at sit-down restaurants or pubs.

10

Helpseeker Technologies (August 2023), Data briefing: Food insecurity in Grande Prairie.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

A full list of the choices and the number of responses are listed in the following table. Please note that residents were asked to select up to five options.

In an average week, where does your household primarily buy or find food? Please select up to 5 options.

Answer Choices

Responses

Grocery store (i.e., Safeway, Superstore, Save-on-Foods, Wal-Mart, No Frills, Fresh Co., Co-op, Freson Brothers, Costco).

98.41%

1975

Grande Prairie Farmer’s Market

9.77%

196

Specialty shops (i.e., Bakery, Butcher Shop, Delicatessen, Ethnic grocery store, Pharmacies, Bulk Barn)

18.54%

372

Convenience/corner store (i.e., 7/11, Circle K)

8.22%

165

Discount or dollar stores (i.e., Giant Tiger, Dollarama, Dollar Tree)

26.61%

534

Food trucks

2.54%

51

Fast food restaurants

30.69%

616

Sit-down restaurants or pubs

16.29%

327

Meal prep & delivery service (i.e., HelloFresh, Good Food, Chef’s Plate)

3.24%

65

Community Kitchen

2.09%

42

Food bank (i.e., Salvation Army)

4.98%

100

Directly from a farmer/rancher

5.38%

108

Grow/harvest/hunt/fish/forage your own food

12.16%

244

Other (please specify)

2.74%

55

Answered

2007

Did you know? From January 1st, 2023, to August 10th, 2023, the Community Kitchen has served 59,466 meals to community residents, while the Salvation Army Food Bank has supported 7,766 individuals living in Grande Prairie. 11

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Kim, Peter (September 19, 2023), Email correspondence from the Salvation Army Food Bank.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 3 — What modes of transportation do Grande Prairie and area residents use to access food?

Not surprisingly, Grande Prairie and area residents predominantly drive their own vehicles to access food, but other modes of transportation or delivery services are sometimes utilized, as outlined below: Please note that residents were able to select more than one option.

91.25%

of residents typically drive their own vehicle.

13.50%

walk.

8.15%

ride with a friend or family member.

6.50%

utilize delivery services.

4.60%

take public transportation.

2.80%

bike.

2.05%

need to use taxi services.

0.70%

selected “other”. Noteworthy additions from residents that selected “other” include skateboarding or having friends/family/community organizations deliver food.

What modes of transportation do you primarily use to access food? Select all that apply 0.70% 6.50% 2.05% 8.15%

91.25%

4.60% 2.80% 13.50%

Did you know? Rising transportation costs have increased the expenses associated with traveling to and from the store, as well as the overall price of groceries. Between January 2021 and February 2023, private transportation costs in Canada have increased by 12.6%, with the cost of operating a vehicle increasing by 13.4%. Additionally, trucking transportation costs have increased by 30.9%, and rail freight costs have partly increased by 23.8%. These factors partly contribute to the rising cost of groceries. 12

12 Statistics Canada (February 22, 2023), Research to insights: Consumer price inflation, recent trends and analysis, https://www150. statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-631-x/11-631-x2023003-eng.htm

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 4 — How much travel time does it take Grande Prairie and area residents to access food?

Residents’ travel times to reach their preferred grocery stores vary as follows: 16.72%

only need one to five minutes.

44.06%

take six to ten minutes.

28.24%

take 11-20 minutes.

4.34%

take 21-29 minutes.

6.64%

require a travel more than 30 minutes to get to the grocery store.

Using your primary mode of transportation, how much time does it take you to get from your home to the grocery store you use the most?

Did you know? When we study a community’s level of food security, it is crucial to consider the overall food environment and how close nutritious food is to where people live. Sometimes, neighborhoods face challenges like “food deserts,” where it is difficult to get to good food using walking or public transport. On the other hand, some areas have “food swamps,” where there are lots of places with not-so-healthy, high-calorie food, like fast food, but it is still a hassle for residents to reach fresh food from grocery stores. Understanding these issues helps us improve a community’s access to healthy food. 13

13 Health Canada (October 11, 2013), Measuring the food environment in Canada, https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/ food-nutrition/healthy-eating/nutrition-policy-reports/measuring-food-environment-canada.html

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 5 — In general, is food affordable or expensive in Grande Prairie?

This survey reveals that a substantial portion of Grande Prairie and area residents feel food is expensive, more specifically: 16.04%

selected that food is very expensive.

41.45%

perceive food prices as expensive.

39.71%

expressed that while some foods are affordable, some are expensive.

2.44%

consider food to be mostly affordable.

0.35%

find food very affordable.

In general, how affordable is the food in our community? (excluding expensive restaurants)

Did you know? It is not surprising that Grande Prairie and area residents are finding food expensive. The Consumer Price Index shows that the cost of food in Alberta has increased 28.4% from June 2016 to June 2023, while the cost of shelter has increased by 26.3% in the same time frame. 14

14

Helpseeker Technologies (August 2023), Data briefing: Food insecurity in Grande Prairie.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results

6 — Where are households finding the most affordable food in our community?

Residents voiced their opinion, suggesting the top five places to find affordable food in Grande Prairie and area as: Real Canadian Superstore No Frills Walmart Supercentre Costco Wholesale FreshCo

Did you know? According to a recent survey by Capterra, it was discovered that many households are altering how they spend their money. Approximately 71% of the people surveyed stated that they are buying fewer groceries or using them more sparingly because prices have been going up, which is known as inflation.15 Additionally, many individuals are changing their shopping habits by trying different brands and going to stores that sell a wide variety of items (general merchandise stores) to save money through discounts. 16

Anaya, T. (May 22, 2023), Has inflation had an impact on consumer spending in Canada?, Capterra, https://www.capterra.ca/blog/3661/ inflation-impact-on-consumer-spending 15

Clarke et al. (July 26, 2023), Switching stores to cope with high inflation: Food sales at food and beverage stores and general merchandise stores, Statistics Canada, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/36-28-0001/2023007/article/00005-eng.htm 16

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 7 — What percentage of Grande Prairie and area residents are facing problems affording food for their household?

This eye-opening data reveals that over half of Grande Prairie and area residents are struggling with food affordability: 19.13%

or roughly one-fifth of residents, often face problems affording food for their household.

38.76%

occasionally face problems affording food for their household.

23.87%

rarely experience problems affording food.

18.24%

never face problems affording food.

Do you personally face problems with affording food for your household?

Did you know? According to Statistics Canada, 21.8% of individuals in Alberta are experiencing food insecurity. This means that one in five residents may be struggling to get enough food to eat.

Among them, 6.6% are severely food-insecure, which means they often skip meals. Additionally, 9.4% are moderately food insecure, which means they must limit the types of food they eat.

Furthermore, 5.8% face marginal food insecurity, which means they worry about running out of food and have limited food choices. 17

17

Helpseeker Technologies (August 2023), Data briefing: Food insecurity in Grande Prairie.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 8 — How much are Grande Prairie and area households spending on groceries each week?

The survey findings provide interesting insight into the grocery budgets of households in Grande Prairie and area: 33.38%

are spending over $200 per week on groceries.

24.76%

fall into the $150 to $200 per week range.

22.02%

only spend $100 to $150 per week.

19.48%

have limited budgets of $100 or less per week.

0.35%

do not purchase groceries.

In Average week, how much does your household spend on groceries?

Did you know? In 2023, it is expected that the annual food expenditure for a man between the ages of 31-50 living in Canada will be approximately $4,168.80, while a woman in the same age group is estimated to spend about $3,740.39 on food. For a teenage boy (aged 14-18) and a preteen girl (aged 9-13) living in Canada, their households are projected to spend around $4,645.17 and $3,725.05, respectively, on their food expenses. Therefore, when these individuals make up a four-person household, their total yearly food expenditure is anticipated to average $16,222.80 in 2023, representing an increase of $1,065.60 compared to 2022. This amounts to spending approximately $311/week on groceries 18

Dalhousie University et al. (2022), Canada’s food price report 2023, https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/sites/agri-food/ Canada%27s%20Food%20Price%20Report%202023_Digital.pdf 18

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 9 — On average, how much are Grande Prairie and area households spending at restaurants each week?

This question provides insights into the dining habits and restaurant spending patterns for households in Grande Prairie and area: 49.58%

spend $50 or less at restaurants per week.

39.80%

are spending $50 or more per week at restaurants.

10.61%

of households do not dine out at all.

In an average week, how much does your household spend on food at restaurants?

Did you know? In a recent survey conducted by the Bank of Canada, some interesting findings emerged about people’s anticipated spending. About 37% of those surveyed mentioned that they expected to go out to restaurants and engage in social activities less frequently in the coming 12 months. They attributed this decision to the increase in interest rates and the rising prices of goods and services, which made them want to spend less. In contrast, 55.8% of respondents stated that they would likely continue going out at about the same rate as before, without any significant changes. Additionally, 7.2% of the participants expressed their intention to go out more often in the next year. 19

Bank of Canada (April 3,2023), Canadian survey of consumer expectations – First quarter of 2023, https://www.bankofcanada. ca/2023/04/canadian-survey-of-consumer-expectations-first-quarter-of-2023/ 19

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 10 — What percentage of Grande Prairie and area residents are facing problems with affording food for their pets?

Pet food insecurity is a concern for some residents in our community: 6.18%

of residents often find it hard to afford food for their pets.

17.79%

occasionally face problems affording food for their pets.

17.99%

rarely face this issue with their pets.

23.37%

never face problems with pet food affordability.

Do you personally face problems with affording food for your pet(s)?

Furthermore, 11.16% of residents do not own a pet due to cost, while 23.52% do not own a pet for other reasons.

Did you know? Low-income families often struggle to provide enough food for their pets, a problem known as pet food insecurity. While there have been limited studies on this issue, one conducted in the United States revealed that these households employ various strategies to ensure their pets do not go hungry. These strategies include seeking assistance from pet food pantries when available, stretching pet food supplies by feeding pets smaller portions, sharing their own food with their pets, reaching out to friends, family, or neighbours for pet food help, sometimes sacrificing their own needs to purchase pet food, and the most common tactic, finding ways to obtain free or discounted food for themselves to allocate resources for their pets.

Importantly, very few pet owners’ resort to giving up their pets or allowing them to go hungry or be underfed when facing food insecurity. 20

20

Arluke, A. (2021), Coping with pet food insecurity in low-income communities, https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2021.1898215

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 11 — On average, how much do pet owners in Grande Prairie and area spend each month to feed their pets?

On average, pet owners in Grande Prairie and area report spending $111.62/month to feed their animals.

Did you know? Approximately 60% of Canadians own pets. In 2022, dog owners spent an average of $1200/year ($120/month) on food, while cat owners spent $576/year ($48/month) on food.

12 — How “Food Secure” is Grande Prairie and area?

This survey asked residents to provide their opinion on “how food secure is our community?” with one (1) being “not secure” and ten (10) being “very secure”. The average rating from residents is 4.8 out of 10, which means there is work to do to make sure everyone has access to enough healthy and affordable food to meet their individual needs.

Did you know? The Indigenous population in Canada faces a significantly higher rate of food insecurity at 33.4%, more than double the rate for those who are white Canadians at 15.3%. 21

21

Helpseeker Technologies (August 2023), Data briefing: Food insecurity in Grande Prairie.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 13 — Do Grande Prairie and area residents regularly travel or order food online from outside of our community to get the food they need?

For the most part, this survey found that the answer is “no” to this question. However: 86.94% usually get food from within our community.

4.32%

will order food online or buy food in other communities as it is cheaper.

3.90%

will order food online or buy food in other communities because it is both better & cheaper.

1.63%

will source food from other places as the specialty foods they need are not available here.

Do you (or anyone in your household) regularly travel or order food online from outside of your community to get the food you need?

3.90% 4.32% 3.21% 1.63%

86.94% Additionally, 3.21% of residents mentioned various reasons why they might order or travel for food, like getting good deals on Amazon, trying meal kits like HelloFresh, buying products from local farmers or ranchers, hunting in rural areas, or finding specialty items that we do not usually have in Grande Prairie and area.

Did you know? Hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering are a few of the reasons residents will leave Grande Prairie to access food. First Nations have been harvesting food off the land since time immemorial. A 2017 survey found in Alberta 32% of First Nations people living off-reserve had hunted, fished, or trapped in the previous 12 months, while 29% had gathered wild plants or berries.22

Kumar, M.B., Furgal, C., Hutchinson, P., Roseborough, W. & Kootoo-Chiarello, S. (April 16, 2019), Harvesting activities among First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit: Time trends, barriers and associated factors. Aboriginal Peoples Survey, Statistics Canada, https:// www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-653-x/89-653-x2019001-eng.htm 22

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 14 — How aware are Grande Prairie and area residents of the food supports that are available in our community?

Grande Prairie and area have a variety of existing supports available for residents facing food insecurity.

This data shows the level of awareness regarding various food assistance programs in the community: 89.34% are well acquainted with the availability of Emergency Food Banks or Food Hampers.

65.54% of residents are aware of Food or Meal Delivery Programs.

56.90% have heard of the Community Kitchen.

48.88% of residents have familiarity with the school nutrition programs.

36.42% would know where to access nutrition and meal planning supports.

20.31% of residents are informed about cooking classes and food education options.

Please select which food programs and/or services that you know are available in our community. Select all that apply.

Please note that Grande Prairie and area residents were asked to select all the programs and services that they knew were available.

Did you know? The Grande Prairie and Area Community Compass23 is designed to help Grande Prairie and area residents find the community supports needed in a more efficient, effective and accessible way.

If you need more information about a local food program, please visit: bit.ly/compassgp

City of Grande Prairie (2023), Grande Prairie and Area community compass, https://cityofgp.com/culture-community/social-programsand-initiatives/community-compass 23

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 15 — How many Grande Prairie and area residents require specialty foods due to health issues, personal choices, or cultural practices?

Many residents in Grande Prairie and area require specialty foods, which at times are quite expensive and not easy to find: 60.38%

of residents indicated that they (or someone living in their household) require specialty foods.

39.62%

of residents do not have special dietary needs.

Do you (or anyone in your household) require specialty foods related to health issues, personal choices, or cultural practices? Select all that apply.

Did you know? Not only are individuals experiencing food insecurity more at risk of developing chronic health conditions, but food insecurity also makes it difficult to manage health problems, as individuals may not be able to afford to stick to their medical diets or skip medications due to the expense. 24

PROOF (n.d.), What are the implications of food insecurity for health and health care?, https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/whatare-the-implications-of-food-insecurity-for-health-and-health-care/ 24

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 16 — What types of barriers are Grande Prairie and area residents facing in finding foods that meet their special food requirements, restrictions, or preferences?

Residents with special food requirements, restrictions, or preferences are encountering several challenges. These include the cost of fresh and nutritious foods, as well as specialty food items. Another issue is the availability of unique foods from various cultures and backgrounds, especially when people need assistance from community organizations. Additionally, individuals with food allergies or specific health conditions face difficulties in finding suitable food options that cater to their severe or multiple allergies or intolerances. These challenges seem to be the primary obstacles for those in need of specialized food.

A sample of “what we heard” from Grande Prairie and area residents: “I can find the food; I just can’t afford it. Gluten free, dairy free, organic, farmer’s market food – any healthy food is always double the price”.

“It’s hard to find Korean ingredients. So, we have to go grocery shopping as far as Edmonton to get it.”

“Poor health due to limited healthy food options due to affordability”.

“Can barely afford regular food let alone having to buy stuff for the celiac or other things that we need that are special”.

“There is nowhere in Grande Prairie that carries kosher foods for Pesach (Passover) if I want any food that meets the requirements for specific Jewish holidays (kosher/unleavened products like matzo), it has to be ordered and shipped to me”.

“The cost is often more for gluten and dairy-free items, no grocery store sells the same thing, so I have to go to multiple stores for what I need.

Restaurants and coffee shops always charge more for these products, too. It feels unfair that my allergy means I am punished and forced to pay several dollars more per meal or beverage.”

“Halal meat options are extremely limited in Grande Prairie. Most of the meat and chicken is twice the price of non-Halal products”.

“Accessing the community kitchen or food bank to meet our food needs does not always meet our needs based on our cultural and religious views”.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results

17 — How many Grande Prairie and area residents are harvesting food from their own personal gardens, community gardens, or orchards?

In the summer months, many Grande Prairie and area residents are missing out on the opportunity to enjoy local, home or community grown produce: 60.72% of residents don’t grow fresh produce, nor do they access community gardens/orchards.

39.28% of residents harvest food from home gardens, community gardens or orchards.

Did you know? The City of Grande Prairie’s “Community Garden/Edible Landscaping” Policy25 outlines the City’s commitment to planting fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. The accompanying Community Garden Guidelines26 outline the procedures residents and organizations can follow to apply for a community garden site.

City of Grande Prairie (Revised July 12, 2021), Community Garden/Edible Landscaping Policy [No. 212], https://cityofgp.com/sites/ default/files/2022-01/policy_212_0.pdf 25

City of Grande Prairie (October 31, 2014), Community Garden guidelines, https://cityofgp.com/sites/default/files/2022-01/ procedure_212-1.pdf 26

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 18 — How much food purchased spoils or expires before Grande Prairie and area residents use it?

Unnecessary food loss and waste add a considerable amount to the cost of buying groceries, and most residents are aware that a portion of the food they buy spoils or expires before they use it: 70.45% of residents find that between 10 to 30% of the food they buy goes bad before they can use it.

13.65% said that up to 40% of their food goes to waste.

2.20%

mentioned that up to 80% of their food spoils before they use it.

0.31%

claim all the food they buy ends up spoiling.

13.39% of residents say that they have no food waste at all.

On average, how much of the food that you buy spoils or expires before you use it?

Did you know? Second Harvest estimates that the annual cost of avoidable food loss and waste in Canada is $1,766 per household.27 Understanding food date labels can help reduce food loss and waste. Second Harvest has a free course on “Understanding Food Date Labels in Canada” 28 for those interested in learning more.

Nikkel, L., Maguire, M., Gooch, M., Bucknell, D., LaPlain, D., Dent, B., Whitehead, P., Felfel, A. (2019), The avoidable crisis of food waste: Roadmap, Second Harvest and Value Chain Management International, https://secondharvest.ca/getmedia/73121ee2-5693-40ec-b6ccdba6ac9c6756/The-Avoidable-Crisis-of-Food-Waste-Roadmap.pdf, p. 19.

27

Second Harvest (n.d.), A guide to food date labelling, https://www.secondharvest.ca/resources/training/food-waste-preventiontraining/a-guide-to-food-date-labeling 28

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 19 — How are Grande Prairie and area residents disposing of food waste?

In Grande Prairie and area, this survey found that most food waste is heading to the landfill: 74.47% of residents dispose of food in the garbage.

25.00% of residents compost, which is an eco-friendly way to recycle food waste.

15.37% of residents will attempt to donate food they no longer need.

13.16% of residents indicated they do not dispose or waste food.

5.47%

indicated they have other methods for disposing of food. These included options like feeding it to animals or using their garbage disposal unit (aka garburator) to wash it down the drain.

How do you dispose of the food that you do not use? Select all that apply.

Did you know? The food waste that ends up in Grande Prairie’s landfill, creates gases that are captured by Aquatera’s bioreactor where it is converted to energy used to power both the water treatment and wastewater treatment plants for Grande Prairie.29

29

Aquatera (2023), Landfill gas-to-energy project, https://www.aquatera.ca/services/garbage-and-recycling/bioreactor

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 20 — What services related to food and nutrition would Grande Prairie and area residents like to see in our community?

We received 645 responses to our optional, open-ended question. After sorting the responses, here are the top ten recommendations for the Food Access and Security Taskforce (F.A.S.T.) from residents to address food-related issues and enhance food security in the community: Community Gardens

Establish and promote community gardens to provide residents with access to fresh produce and educational resources for gardening.

Nutrition Education

Offer nutrition education programs, cooking classes, and access to dietitians to help individuals make healthier food choices, especially those with dietary restrictions or health concerns.

Food Waste Reduction

Develop initiatives to reduce food waste, such as diverting almost expired produce from grocery stores to food banks, more composting opportunities, and processing about-to-expire food into meals.

School Food Programs

Implement or expand school breakfast and lunch programs to ensure that all children have access to nutritious meals while at school.

Food Accessibility and Donations

Improve food accessibility by creating neighborhood fridges and shelves, providing free delivery of food hampers, and increasing the number of collective kitchens. Promote food donation programs in collaboration with local stores and restaurants.

Environmental Initiatives

Reduce the amount of food that goes into the garbage, provide access to affordable compost and topsoil, and raise awareness of the environmental impact of food choices.

Affordable Meals and Food Delivery

Support affordable, healthy meal options through independent restaurants and meal prep services, with a focus on delivering to vulnerable populations.

Community Nutrition & Cooking Education

Expand community nutrition and cooking classes, offering both inperson and virtual options. Ensure that these programs are affordable and accessible to everyone.

Financial Support for Dietary Restrictions

Provide financial discounts or support for individuals with dietary restrictions who face higher food costs.

Community Food Pantries

Establish community pantries or expand existing ones to provide convenient access to food for individuals and families in need.

These recommendations cover a range of strategies to address food security issues in the community, including education, access to fresh food, waste reduction, and support for vulnerable populations.

Implementing these recommendations can help create a more food-secure and resilient community.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 21 — Where do the Grande Prairie & area residents who responded to our survey live?

This survey was open to all residents living within Grande Prairie and the surrounding area. The first three characters in a postal code, the FSA (Forward Sortation Area), provides a general idea of where in Grande Prairie and area residents who responded to the survey live: 44.07% of residents live in the T8V area.

27.09% in the T8X area.

22.88% in T8W area.

5.38%

live in T0H, which indicates rural northwest Alberta.

0.58%

had postal codes that indicated their primary residence is outside of the region.

Did you know? According to the 2021 Census, the population of the City of Grande Prairie is 64,141 and the population of the County of Grande Prairie is 23,769. 31 Our survey indicates that approximately one in five (16,817) individuals in this region live in households that often face problems affording food.

Statistics Canada (2021), Grande Prairie [population centre], Alberta [map], https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/ geo?geotext=Grande%20Prairie%20%5BCensus%20agglomeration%5D,%20Alberta&geocode=S0504850 30

Statistics Canada (March 29, 2023), 2021 census of population, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/ index.cfm?Lang=E, accessed September 14, 2023.

31

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 22 — What is the total household income of the Grande Prairie and area residents who responded to our survey?

Residents with household incomes across all income brackets were interested in participating in the Food Access and Affordability Survey: 16.45% of residents have total household incomes of $150,000/year or more.

24.81% of residents have total household incomes between $100,000 - $150,000/year.

16.12% have total household incomes between $75,000 – $99,999/year.

16.83% indicated total household incomes between $50,000 – $74,999/year.

11.11% have household incomes between $30,000 – $49,999/year.

14.69% have household incomes that are less than $29,999/year.

What is your household income?

Did you know? For 2022, the Living Wage in Grande Prairie was calculated to be an average of $19.65/hour, where two adults in a household of four need to be making at least $17.25/hour ($62,790/year), a lone parent household $25.35/hour ($46,137/year), and a single individual $20.25/hour ($36,855/year) to afford the cost of living in Grande Prairie. 32

Alberta Living Wage Network (November 2022), Alberta living wage report: Community calculations & methodology, https://static1. squarespace.com/static/63ebf58a5a658d0c030f0f25/t/6476647319471b6f87cc7003/1685480565177/Living-Wage-Report-2022.pdf 32

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results 23 — What is the citizenship status of Grande Prairie and area residents who responded to the survey?

This question was an attempt to learn about how residents that recently arrived in Canada are doing when it comes to food security. It turns out that most of the answers we received were from residents who are already Canadian citizens (96.01%) or permanent residents (3.19%), which indicates they have lived in Canada for a while.

Due to this lack of data, we need to gather more information specifically from newcomers and immigrants. Therefore, a question about food affordability was added to the 2023 Immigrant Survey conducted by the Grande Prairie Local Immigration Partnership. This way, our community can get better data on whether newcomers and immigrants struggling with food insecurity.

Please select if you are: 96.01%

a Canadian Citizen

3.19%

a landed immigrant (permantent residence)

0.21%

a person who has claimed refugee status in Canada

0.11%

a person who has entered under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization

0.48%

a person form another country with a work or study permit

0.00%

a resident of another visiting Canada on vacation or business trip.

Did you know? Statistics Canada data shows that food insecurity in Canada varies depending on racial and cultural identity. For example, the Black population faces the highest level of food insecurity at 39.2%, the Filipino population is 29.2%, while the Arab population is 27%.

In comparison, food insecurity for White Canadian populations is 15.3%. 33

33

Helpseeker Technologies (August 2023), Data briefing: Food insecurity in Grande Prairie.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Food Access & Affordability Survey: Household Survey Results

24 — How many years have residents who responded to our survey lived in Grande Prairie?

This question was not a mandatory question, and only 81 responses were received. However, of the residents who responded, the average length of residency in Grande Prairie and area was 9 years.

Did you know? The Reverend Forbes Homestead is the oldest log home in Grande Prairie.

Built in 1911-12, the structure still stands at 10424 96th Street and is a Provincial Historic Resource Site.34 The Homestead is also the site of one of two Community Learning Gardens with the GP Grows program (the other garden is located outside the Design Works Centre). 35

City of Grande Prairie (2023), Reverend Forbes homestead, https://cityofgp.com/parks-recreation/facilities-venues/reverend-forbeshomestead 34

35

City of Grande Prairie (2023), GP grows, https://cityofgp.com/city-services/more-services/park-space-urban-forestry/gp-grows

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Recommendations Short-Term Actions 1. Ongoing Community Engagement 2. Develop a Community-Centered Action Plan 3. Promote the Living Wage 4. Advocate to the Provincial and Federal Government 5. Support School Nutrition Programs 6. Bolster Existing Emergency Food Resources 7. Grow more Community Gardens, Orchards, and Edible Landscapes In the short term, our community can focus on immediate actions to address food security, which includes finding a backbone organization to coordinate the ongoing work of the Food Access and Security Taskforce (F.A.S.T.). Once the backbone organization has been determined, F.A.S.T. should continue to engage with non-profit organizations, government bodies, local businesses, and residents with lived experience to collaborate on initiatives. Building a community-centred Food Security Action Plan should be a top priority, along with promoting the importance of paying a Living Wage in Grande Prairie, as this helps combat food insecurity linked to low income.

Our community should also advocate to both provincial and federal governments for policies that address the rising cost of living, including food, housing, energy, and transportation. Additionally, advocating for a national school nutrition program and finding ways to better support school nutrition programs locally are short-term objectives. Ensuring emergency food resources meet special dietary needs, exploring funding opportunities to expand them, and making community gardens and orchards more accessible are key initiatives to implement soon.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Recommendations Long-Term Goals 1. Build a Sustainable Food Environment 2. Enhance Food Education Initiatives 3. Support Individuals with Specialty Diets 4. Address Pet food Insecurity 5. Maintain a Community Food Map 6. Evolve F.A.S.T. For the long term, our community should prioritize sustainability and education. Reducing food loss and waste, while considering the social and environmental consequences, is vital. Providing educational opportunities on nutrition, food waste reduction, and food cultivation should be ongoing efforts. Pet food insecurity, which is often overlooked, should also be considered. Researching ways to better support those with specialty diets facing food insecurity should be an ongoing commitment.

Additionally, maintaining a community food map and fostering knowledge and support for local growers and farmers can ensure long-term food security in Grande Prairie. Finally, allowing the Food Access and Security Task Force (F.A.S.T) the flexibility to evolve and change in response to the dynamic needs of the community will be essential. By pursuing these short-term and long-term goals, we can work towards a healthier and more secure future for our community.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

Conclusion In conclusion, the Food Access & Affordability Survey conducted in Grande Prairie and area has shed light on critical aspects of food security within our community. The survey, with its high response rate, has provided valuable insight into the challenges residents are facing with affording and accessing nutritious food.

The findings of this survey underscore the urgency of addressing food affordability and accessibility within our community. The data reveals that a significant number of residents are struggling with the high cost of food, and concerns about food security are prevalent. These challenges affect individuals and families across various income levels and household size, making it imperative for our community to take collective action by developing a community-centered Food Security Action Plan with both short-term actions and long-term goals in mind.

While the City of Grande Prairie is a member of the Food Access and Security Taskforce (F.A.S.T.) and supports its initiatives, it is not the backbone organization in this endeavor. Currently, F.A.S.T. is actively seeking a community-based organization to serve as the backbone of the Taskforce.

For those engaged in food production or distribution in Grande Prairie and area who are interested in joining F.A.S.T., the opportunity is open, and prospective members are encouraged to reach out to the City of Grande Prairie’s Community Social Development department to apply for membership.

Collaboration and community involvement are crucial elements in addressing food security challenges and ensuring that residents have access to nutritious and affordable food.

For further information about this report or to apply to be on the Food Access and Security Task Force (F.A.S.T.), kindly email: CSD@cityofgp.com.

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Food Access & Affordability Survey — 2023 Results

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Food Access and Affordability Household Survey

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Food Access & 2023 Results

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