Availability And Prices Of Foods Across Stores And Neighborhoods: The Case Of New Haven, Connecticut

• Published in: Health Affairs Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 1381 - 1388
• Main Authors: Andreyeva, Tatiana, Blumenthal, Daniel M, Schwartz, Marlene B, Long, Michael W, Brownell, Kelly D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Health Affairs 01.09.2008; The People to People Health Foundation, Inc., Project HOPE
• Subjects: Availability; Commerce - statistics & numerical data; Comparative analysis; Connecticut; Convenience stores; Equality; Food - economics; Food prices; Food supply; Food Supply - statistics & numerical data; Grain; Grocery stores; Health Policy; Humans; Income; Low income groups; Neighborhoods; New Haven, Connecticut; Nutrition; Prices; Residence Characteristics; Retail stores; Studies; Supermarkets; Vegetables - economics; Connecticut; New Haven Connecticut; United States > US
• ISSN: 0278-2715; 1544-5208
• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.5.1381

Two studies compared food availability and prices in large and small stores across neighborhoods of varying income levels in New Haven, Connecticut. The findings suggest that supermarket access in lower-income neighborhoods has improved since 1971, and average food prices are comparable across income areas. Despite this progress, stores in lower-income neighborhoods (compared to those in higher-income neighborhoods) stock fewer healthier varieties of foods and have fresh produce of much lower quality. Policies are needed not only to improve access to supermarkets, but also to ensure that stores in lower-income neighborhoods provide high-quality produce and healthier versions of popular foods.