The Ball Gets Rolling

The second week of Round 2 of field work saw several exciting developments. The first of these developments is Nicole's new partnership with the Missoula Food Bank (MFB). The MFB is a private, non-profit organization that provides emergency food assistance to any and all individuals and families who walk through their doors. 

MFB staff gave Nicole an office space where she can interview people on a voluntary basis who visit the MFB. Respondents answer a set of questions relating to their current food situation, their interest in and knowledge of local food, and any factors that prevent them from participating in the local and sustainable agriculture movement, particularly as it relates to the Western Montana Growers Coop. 

The basis of this collaboration is: 1) the inclusion of lower-income and lower-access populations in the rural development study; and 2) the fact that WMGC, which accepts SNAP benefits for its CSA program, has had difficulty enrolling those who qualify for food assistance despite its efforts.

The WMGC truck delivering CSA shares to the drop point in St. Ignatius

The second development of the past week is the incorporation of existing WMGC CSA members into the study. On Thursday, Nicole visited 2 randomly selected CSA drop points, Polson and St. Ignatius, in order to introduce herself and the study to potential interview participants. 

The contents of a weekly WMGC CSA share.

The next week will include additional visits to various other CSA drop points, as well as scheduling and conducting interviews with as many CSA members as possible to learn about changes in individual and household access to and consumption of local, healthy food as a result of WMGC's CSA.

The Main Study: Back in Montana for Round Two

Nicole is back in western Montana once again for a second round of data collection for her dissertation research. This time, she is interviewing consumers, including both members of the Western Montana Growers Cooperative's (WMGC) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program as well as non-members. Nicole is also interviewing additional growers and new key informants for the project. 

Besides including non-agriculturalists this time around, another change from last year is WMGC's location. In January 2015 WMGC moved from their initial site on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Arlee to a newer and much larger facility in Missoula. The new location shares space with Missoula Community Food Coop, Burns St. Bistro and the North Missoula Community Development Corporation. 

Montana Food Bank Network on the outskirts of Missoula

Nicole's first week included interviews with WMGC's manager and CSA coordinator and a tour of WMGC's new facility. She also spoke with Dr. George Price of the University of Montana's Native American Studies department in addition to the Chief Policy Officer of the Montana Food Bank Network. Speaking with these key informants will help Nicole begin to address several of her main research questions, such as how WMGC has affected food access and healthy food consumption in surrounding areas, particularly for populations in need in lower-income rural communities that may qualify as 'food deserts'.    

Native American Center at University of Montana

She also visited the Clark Fork Market in Missoula on Saturday in order to conduct some participant observation as well as introduce herself and her study to both WMGC member and non-member growers at the market for potential interviews. Her goals for the second week include speaking with more growers and with WMGC CSA members for the first time. She is also planning to speak with tribal council members from the Flathead Indian Reservation in addition to non-member consumers, who will be surveyed at public locations such as area food banks and libraries. 

Visiting the Clark Fork Market in Missoula