Project Summary
This project investigates how enhancing transportation can improve access to fresh, nutritious food in underserved communities in Santa Ana, CA, and Syracuse, NY. Many low-income households, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities in these cities lack personal vehicles and rely on public transit, walking, or biking, making grocery shopping challenging. This limited access contributes to “food deserts” and associated health issues like obesity and diabetes. The study will employ online surveys in both cities to understand residents’ current grocery shopping habits and preferences for future access, including options like food co-ops, mobile markets, or delivery services. Recruitment will target underserved communities through partnerships with local organizations such as churches, Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now! (FAHNN) in Syracuse, and Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ) in Santa Ana. We will also recruit from the general population via Amazon Mechanical Turk. The Santa Ana survey will be available in English and Spanish. With approximately 500 responses from each city, data will be analyzed using discrete choice models. Findings will be disseminated through community meetings, a policy brief, and academic publications, aiming to inform strategies that improve fresh food access for all residents in these and similar communities.
