BIDDEFORD – Students from the University of New England’s Community Health Assessment course have spent the semester visiting area convenience stores to help find a solution for a common need downtown: healthier food options.

Students surveyed nine convenience stores in downtown Biddeford: 7-Eleven on Alfred Street; Paul’s Variety on Alfred Street; New Morning Natural Foods on Main Street; Pool Street Market; Three D’s Variety on Main Street; Uu Supermarket on Main Street; Trans Market on Elm Street; 7B Corner Store on Elm Street; and Getty Mart on Elm Street.

Students collected data using a CX3 tool, which allows the community to survey aspects of obesity prevention in their area. CX3 stands for Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention and aids local health agencies to help the public in improving the quality of healthy options they provide.

The project was done in correlation with the EPA’s Local Foods, Local Places, a federal program committed to improving community health. The Biddeford chapter is one 16 nationwide participating in Local Foods, Local Places and is hosted by Engine on Main Street in Biddeford. Since its inception in November 2018, the initiative has endeavored to create a community action plan for Biddeford, including support for existing establishments as well as support for those who are interested in promoting and providing fresh and healthy local food to the area.

UNE students led a presentation and potluck at Engine April 11. According to the program, sharing food with others promotes a sense of community. Of the 32 people in attendance were students and faculty of UNE, as well as interested members of the community.

The presentation highlighted the surveyed convenience stores and included opinions on how promoting healthy food could be better addressed.

The project was overseen by course professor Bethany Fortier, formerly of Maine Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition, who was pleased that students were eager to be involved.

“Getting hands on experience is really important, and it’s helped them grasp the knowledge and apply it,” Fortier said.

The survey found that at each of the stores there was room for improvement.

For produce, of the nine stores, fruit was sold in three and vegetables in four. New Morning Natural Foods and Trans Market were cited as being the two with the most variety. According to data, all nine offered healthy options, which include protein, eggs, fruits, vegetables and dairy. However, none provided healthy ads near fruits and vegetables. Only one of the stores boasted locally grown produce, and seven of the nine displayed unhealthy advertisements, as opposed to two that provided healthy ads.

Following the presentation, attendees were encouraged to ask questions and provide suggested solutions for providing more healthy options. When asked why only certain stores were surveyed, Emily Estell of SNAP-Ed, an educator with the state program that provides food assistance, said the stores were chosen based on their census classification, so some stores that also provide food to the community, such as Part and Parcel on Alfred Street, may have been left out.

“Just because they weren’t included in the study doesn’t mean they can’t be part of the solution,” Estell said.

In addition to surveying stores in the downtown, the class interviewed key members of the initiative. Informants included Tammy Ackerman, executive director of Engine; Holly Culloton of Mission Hill Garden; Sarah Breul of Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition; and Karen Chasse of the Biddeford School Department. The class cited goals of the four women interviewed, including the expansion of community gardens, collaborating with young people to further the initiative and promoting a healthier community for Biddeford.

One concern is the lack of advertisements in convenience stores that accept SNAP benefits. Visible information would let those who qualify know that there are options for fresh produce. Of the nine stores surveyed, SNAP is available at eight. However, there were no signs that indicated SNAP was available in six of the eight.

Other solutions include marketing that provides information and recipes about the produce available at each locations, as well as changing the layout of stores to enhance the appeal of healthy options.

“We were happy to collaborate with the students of UNE,” Breul said. “It’s great for them to be able to promote solutions and help increase access to healthy local options.”

Contact Staff Writer Abigail Worthing at news@inthecourier.com.

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