The Changing Structure and Performance of the Food Distribution System: Implications for Low Income Urban Consumers

First, I would like to review the changing structure of the food distribution industry and try to highlight how changes in the structure of the system affect access to food by low income urban consumers. Then, I will move on to discuss performance issues and highlight impacts on low income urban consumers. Finally, I will discuss policy options including the possibility of joint public private initiatives to improve the structure and performance of the food distribution system for low income urban consumers. In preparing my testimony I came across a 1987 report by this committee titles "Obtaining Food: Shopping Constraints on the Poor." It provides an excellent review of the research prior to 1987 and develops very credible conclusions and recommendations that hold to a large extent in 1992. My comments today will primarily supplement that earlier report by explaining recent major shifts int he organization and performance of the industry, commenting on recent research on the industry and the food access issue, and suggesting some new policy initiatives.