Ecological Analyses of Socio-Economic Food Deserts in Broward County
Abstract
“Food desert” refers to an area where citizens lack access to fresh, affordable, nutritious food. Food deserts are generally in low-income urban neighborhoods or rural towns and can be considered environmental or economic injustice. South Florida and Broward County have been documented as having a high food insecurity rate, indicative of households having difficulty putting food on the table. Given the high rate of food insecurity, it was hypothesized that a lack of access to food and the presence of socio-economic food deserts was at least partially responsible. Data was collected by visiting three supermarkets in each of the 13 State House Districts in Broward County. In each district both major chain supermarkets and small, independent markets were explored. For each supermarket the unpackaged, refrigerated produce was photographed, counted, and logged. Demographic statistics including measures of income, racial/ethnic makeup and educational attainment were collected from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey. Median income was positively correlated to produce diversity and the proportion of minorities was negatively correlated with diversity at all stores. Although diversity varied, analysis of similarity showed there were no consistent produce items that were more or less available in the different communities. Therefore, it is concluded that there may be fewer choices in some neighborhoods, but the differences vary from place to place and store to store.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. J. Matthew Hoch
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-6-2021 12:00 PM
End Date
4-9-2021 12:00 PM
Ecological Analyses of Socio-Economic Food Deserts in Broward County
Alvin Sherman Library
“Food desert” refers to an area where citizens lack access to fresh, affordable, nutritious food. Food deserts are generally in low-income urban neighborhoods or rural towns and can be considered environmental or economic injustice. South Florida and Broward County have been documented as having a high food insecurity rate, indicative of households having difficulty putting food on the table. Given the high rate of food insecurity, it was hypothesized that a lack of access to food and the presence of socio-economic food deserts was at least partially responsible. Data was collected by visiting three supermarkets in each of the 13 State House Districts in Broward County. In each district both major chain supermarkets and small, independent markets were explored. For each supermarket the unpackaged, refrigerated produce was photographed, counted, and logged. Demographic statistics including measures of income, racial/ethnic makeup and educational attainment were collected from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey. Median income was positively correlated to produce diversity and the proportion of minorities was negatively correlated with diversity at all stores. Although diversity varied, analysis of similarity showed there were no consistent produce items that were more or less available in the different communities. Therefore, it is concluded that there may be fewer choices in some neighborhoods, but the differences vary from place to place and store to store.
