Geospatial Analysis of Neighborhood Characteristics and Access to Fresh Produce: The Role of Farmers' Markets and Roadside Farm Stands

Abstract

A growing number of studies have shown that adequate spatial access to healthy foods leads to increased fresh produce consumption and reduced risk of chronic diseases. Annual dynamics of spatial access to 1,539 vendors of fresh produce (including farmers markets and roadside farm stands) are analyzed in Massachusetts. Travel distance to the nearest fresh produce vendor was calculated for each census block group using GIS and dasymetric mapping. Spearman's rank order correlation coefficient was calculated to test whether the association between neighborhood characteristics and the travel distance to the nearest vendor existed and if it was statistically significant in urbanized and rural areas. Results show that during summer, median travel distance to the nearest fresh produce vendor decreases 20% in rural areas and 9% in urbanized areas. The shortest travel distances are associated with the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in both rural and urbanized settings. Further research is needed to examine if the same association holds true in other parts in the country.