How Do Food Retail Locations and Food Pricing Influence Food Choice for Harlem Residents?

Abstract

African Americans and other racial minorities are confined in communities that lack accessibility to fresh healthy foods, which results in severe consequences such as buying unhealthy, inexpensive foods. ‘Food Desert' has been a term used by many researchers to describe low-income neighborhoods that have limited access to supermarkets and larger food markets, which provide more healthier food options. Instead these communities rely on fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and local supermarket chains for food. The purpose of this research is to investigate what kinds of food retail outlets and supermarkets are commonly found in neighborhoods that serve two different populations based on race and socioeconomic status. Using an observational approach, various maps exploring two Harlem neighborhoods (Central Harlem and Manhattan Valley) were investigated in order to determine what population had more access to healthy and unhealthy foods. The main findings were that Central Harlem (highest population of racial minorities) had more access to unhealthy foods, and Manhattan Valley (highest population of Whites) had better access to healthy foods.