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What Role Do Local Grocery Stores Play in Urban Food Environments? A Case Study of Hartford-Connecticut

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  • Katie S Martin
  • Debarchana Ghosh
  • Martha Page
  • Michele Wolff
  • Kate McMinimee
  • Mengyao Zhang

Abstract

Introduction: Research on urban food environments emphasizes limited access to healthy food, with fewer large supermarkets and higher food prices. Many residents of Hartford, Connecticut, which is often considered a food desert, buy most of their food from small and medium-sized grocery stores. We examined the food environment in greater Hartford, comparing stores in Hartford to those in the surrounding suburbs, and by store size (small, medium, and large). Methods: We surveyed all small (over 1,000 ft2), medium, and large-sized supermarkets within a 2-mile radius of Hartford (36 total stores). We measured the distance to stores, availability, price and quality of a market basket of 25 items, and rated each store on internal and external appearance. Geographic Information System (GIS) was used for mapping distance to the stores and variation of food availability, quality, and appearance. Results: Contrary to common literature, no significant differences were found in food availability and price between Hartford and suburban stores. However, produce quality, internal, and external store appearance were significantly lower in Hartford compared to suburban stores (all p

Suggested Citation

  • Katie S Martin & Debarchana Ghosh & Martha Page & Michele Wolff & Kate McMinimee & Mengyao Zhang, 2014. "What Role Do Local Grocery Stores Play in Urban Food Environments? A Case Study of Hartford-Connecticut," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0094033
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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