Abstract
The Children's Healthy Living Center of Excellence (CHL Center) conducted a food cost survey (CHL FCS) in the United States Affiliated Pacific Region (USAPR) that was modified from the United States Department of Agriculture Community Food Security Assessment Toolkit (CFSAT). The CFSAT is based on the 1999 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). The TFP estimates the cost of consuming a healthy, cost-conscious diet at home and is based on food cost, nutrients in food, nutrition guidance and What We Eat in America (WWEIA). The USAPR is not included in the WWEIA survey. The CFSAT's 87 food items were included in the CHL FCS. The purpose of this study is to describe the availability of the food items in stores within the USAPR and what items were locally produced. In March 2021, food cost data were collected from 92 stores in the jurisdictions of Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Hawai'i. Most CHL FCS food items were available in at least 1 store in each jurisdiction with a range from 0 to 14 items missing from all stores. The presence of local food items was limited across jurisdictions, ranging from 8 to 27 items. Geographic isolation and small populations affect the availability of food items. Inclusion of the region's cultural and dietary practices in national nutritional guidance is crucial in preserving local food cultures, and the production and consumption of local foods.