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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Noel Chávez, PhD, RD¹, Nancy J. Bates, DrPH, RD, CHES¹, and Daniel Block, PhD². (1) Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois-Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-0747, nchavez@uic.edu, (2) Geography, Economics & Anthropology, Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628

Access to healthy food at a reasonable price is a problem in low income communities. Data are presented for 2 low income, minority Chicago Community Areas, Riverdale (African American, AA) and Hegewisch (Mexican), without large chain supermarkets and with limited transportation.

USDA market basket survey methodology was used and included the 88 item Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) shopping list plus an AA or Mexican ethnic module to assess availability and prices in all stores in each community. The data were collected using pocket PCs. The USDA algorithm was used to calculate costs across store types.

Riverdale stores carried an average of 65/88 TFP items and 23/31 AA items, although the larger stores carried more items, particularly fruits and vegetables (F&V). In smaller stores, F&V and dairy prices were higher although meat prices were lower in both communities. Riverdale prices were higher in stores with lower sales volume than ($120 vs. $102). Hegewisch stores carried an average of 56/88 TFP items and 9/24 Mexican items. The largest store carried 85/88 TFP items but the convenience store had 29/88 TFP items. Convenience store prices were higher compared to the low and high sales volume stores ($133, $124, $122).

Low income shoppers without transportation have few local healthy food options from the TFP and ethnic module lists. However, generalizing prices across store types doesn't hold as prices often differ by food category (i.e., meat vs. produce). Results will be used to help communities improve healthy food access.

Learning Objectives:

• Increase knowledge of market basket study methods.
• Describe differences in food price and availability by store types and community
• Discuss community strategies to improve healthy food access

Keywords: Food Security, Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 236.0 kb)