Methods to evaluate community food hubs in high-income countries: a scoping review

Community food hubs have potential to strengthen local food systems and promote food security, but evaluation methods have not been systematically reviewed. A scoping review was conducted to analyse methods used to evaluate community food hubs in high-income countries. Studies and reports published in English between January 2013 and December 2023 were sought in four databases. Food hubs with a physical market selling healthy local food, that had been evaluated empirically, were eligible for inclusion. A narrative synthesis was conducted, and descriptive statistics were used to summarise results. Outcomes and impacts assessed were classified under five categories: economic development and viability; ecological sustainability; access to and demand for healthy local food; personal and community wellbeing; agency and re-localisation of power. Sixteen studies/reports were included, evaluating 24 food hubs (USA n = 16; Australia n = 7; Canada n = 1). Food hubs were evaluated using cross-sectional study designs (n = 16, 67%), longitudinal designs (n = 7, 29%) and one used a quasi-experimental study design. Almost half were evaluated using quantitative methods only, a third were evaluated using mixed methods and five were evaluated qualitatively. Surveys were the most frequent data collection tool, followed by interviews. Outcomes regarding ‘personal and community wellbeing’ and ‘access to and demand for healthy local food’ were assessed most frequently. No long-term impacts were assessed. Evidence of food hub outcomes and impacts is critical for their continuity. Evaluation of food hubs using mixed methods approaches with strong theoretical underpinnings is recommended, to enable practitioners to demonstrate outcomes across multiple categories and progress toward long-term impacts.