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Population Density, Poverty, and Food Retail Access in the United States: An Empirical Approach

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  • Wilde, Parke
  • Llobrera, Joseph
  • Ver Ploeg, Michele

Abstract

This article uses a random sample of census block groups to describe the adequacy of the local food retail environment in the continental United States. It builds upon simple empirical relationships between population density, poverty rates, vehicle access, and proximity to the nearest supermarket. In contrast with the conventional wisdom, the results show that high-poverty block groups had closer proximity to the nearest supermarket than other block groups did, on average: 85.6% of high-poverty block groups had a supermarket within 1 mile, while 76.8% of lower-poverty block groups had a supermarket within this distance. Population density is a strong predictor of proximity to the nearest supermarket. Block groups with very high population density generally had very close proximity to a nearest supermarket. In block groups lacking a nearby supermarket, rates of automobile access generally were quite high (more than 95%), although this still leaves almost 5% of the population in these areas lacking both an automobile and a nearby supermarket.

Suggested Citation

  • Wilde, Parke & Llobrera, Joseph & Ver Ploeg, Michele, 2014. "Population Density, Poverty, and Food Retail Access in the United States: An Empirical Approach," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 17(A), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ifaamr:164603
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.164603
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Stewart, Hayden & Dong, Diansheng, 2018. "The Relationship Between Patronizing Direct-to-Consumer Outlets and a Household’s Demand for Fruits and Vegetables," Economic Research Report 276254, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. Rahkovsky, Ilya & Snyder, Samantha, 2015. "Food Choices and Store Proximity," Economic Research Report 210316, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    4. Stewart, Hayden & Dong, Diansheng, 2018. "How strong is the demand for food through direct-to-consumer outlets?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 35-43.
    5. Parke Wilde & Mehreen Ismail & Michele Ver Ploeg, 2021. "The Quality of the Food Retail Environment When Consumers May Be Mobile," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(2), pages 701-715, June.
    6. Christopher M. Bacon & Gregory A. Baker, 2017. "The rise of food banks and the challenge of matching food assistance with potential need: towards a spatially specific, rapid assessment approach," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(4), pages 899-919, December.
    7. Grindal, Todd & Wilde, Parke & Schwartz, Gabe & Klerman, Jacob & Bartlett, Susan & Berman, Danielle, 2016. "Does food retail access moderate the impact of fruit and vegetable incentives for SNAP participants? Evidence from western Massachusetts," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 59-69.
    8. Ver Ploeg, Michele & Larimore, Elizabeth & Wilde, Parke E., 2017. "The Influence of Food Store Access on Grocery Shopping and Food Spending," Economic Information Bulletin 264600, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    11. Zhao, Jianqiang J. & Kaiser, Harry M. & Zheng, Yuqing, 2022. "Do grocery food taxes incentivize participation in SNAP?," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
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