Food Deserts and Market Integration: Evidence from “Imperfect but Good" Produce Initiative in Chile

I traveled to Chile to explore Walmart's "Imperfect but Good" initiative, which sells fruits and vegetables that do not meet traditional color or shape standards at a reduced price. During my visit, I toured supermarkets to observe how the initiative operates, who is purchasing these products, and other relevant details. I also met with Walmart's marketing and IT teams to request data for analysis. Our goal with the data is to understand:
1. Nutritional inequality in consumption: First, we aim to demonstrate that fruit and vegetable consumption is lower among low-income households. Then, we will assess whether this disparity is due to price effects or consumer preferences.
2. Impact on agricultural suppliers and waste: We seek to measure how the initiative affects the production and waste decisions of agricultural suppliers. Specifically, we will evaluate whether integrating both types of products into one market (allowing suppliers to sell imperfect produce) influences supplier growth and strengthens their relationship with Walmart.