Abstract
Farmer’s markets have grown since the early 2000s as locations for community development and for small businesses to participate in local spaces. This study examines the locations of farmer’s markets and the accessibility to various socioeconomic groups by use of data from markets, farms, and the US Census Bureau to determine spatially comparative differences. Small markets are sources essential for low-income communities, yet economic and cultural factors stimulate areas for growth in all areas of California. There is little known about the barriers to California farmer’s markets creating more positive shopping habits and community experiences for low-income consumers and people of color. This study considers ways that farmers’ markets are less visited, and therefore less accessible to low-income households in need of fresh produce. Previous research has shown that low-income participants have found barriers for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, user compatibility, supermarket competition, and diffident guarantee for fresh produce. This research uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to spatially map, visualize and examine census demographics such as median household income, race, and ethnicity to find the most statistically significant differences between six California counties.
Presenters
Emily FrisanStudent, Geography, George Washington University, District of Columbia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
GIS, Food Mapping, Socioeconomic demographics, Food culture, Farmer's market, Accessibility
