Locarto: Mobile mapping to promote economic development and healthy food

Background: NYC launched the Green Carts program in 2008 to expand access to healthy foods and economic opportunity in underserved neighborhoods. Street vendors were encouraged to sell fresh fruits and vegetables. Objective: Esperanza del Barrio developed an online map (locarto.org) that street vendors could update and shoppers could access using cell phone text messages. Methods: Programmed in xhtml, Locarto allows vendors to register online, and thereafter send a text message with their address to a central number to update their location on the publicly available map. Community members can use the online map, or send a text message with their address to the central number, and receive a response with the nearest vendors. The model tests the utility of a text message-based map for low-literacy and low-technology populations, by tracking both the number of vendors enrolled and the number of consumers served. The map was promoted through public, community, and academic collaborators. Results: This presentation will focus on the number of vendors and consumers utilizing the site (since launch and per month), and their geographic distribution. Conclusions: This is a novel method of real-time tracking and promotion of healthy food availability in underserved neighborhoods. Collection of initial utilization data will pave the way for future dissemination and evaluation.