L’apport du Marché solidaire Croque St-Roch à la lutte contre l’insécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle dans le quartier Saint-Roch, à Québec

Abstract

Since several years, the Saint-Roch neighbourhood, in the lower town of Quebec City, has been facing numerous food and nutrition insecurity issues that vary according to the often difficult life histories of its population. Indeed, for historical and sociological reasons, this neighborhood has more people with mental health, physical health and homelessness problems, and now also include immigrants who are not sufficiently adapted to their new living environment. This diversity brings significant challenges in understanding the specific causes of food and nutrition insecurity in this neighborhood, the physical and psychological consequences of this insecurity on its inhabitants, and the actions that need to be taken to sustainably reduce it. Various initiatives have been taken to improve food and nutrition security in the neighborhood. Among them is the creation of the Croque St-Roch solidarity market, to facilitate access to local market garden products. However, several observers note a lack of interest in these products by the population of the Saint-Roch district, and in particular the most vulnerable people. This study focuses on the causes of food and nutrition insecurity in this neighbourhood, including the reasons for the low inclusion of fresh and healthy produce in the diet of these people. Among these reasons, the study found a lack of knowledge about much of the food offered by the Croque St-Roch solidarity market. Information sheets and samplings were therefore proposed to educate the market’s clientele.