Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

I use a combination of administrative and survey data to analyze the effectiveness of a new program that delivers food to people living in low food access areas of Baltimore City. Program participants order food online and pick up their orders at set times in central locations such as nursing homes, libraries, schools and community centers. Program participants report significant reductions in their usage of supermarkets and restaurants as well as an increase in purchasing of healthful foods after the introduction of the delivery program. I find support for these claims by comparing the composition of program purchases to those found in the USDA's National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey. This analysis presents an example of a program that is able to increase healthy food purchasing by increasing access to healthy foods, though its main users are seniors.