SPATIAL DIFFERENCES IN FRESH VEGETABLE SPENDING: A CASE STUDY IN GUILFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

• Main Authors: H. Miao, L. Hashemi-Beni, T. Mulrooney, L. A. Kurkalova, C. L. Liang, M. Jha, G. Monty
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2020-11-01
• Series: The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
• Online Access: https://www.int-arch-photogramm-remote-sens-spatial-inf-sci.net/XLIV-M-2-2020/73/2020/isprs-archives-XLIV-M-2-2020-73-2020.pdf

This paper investigates the spatial differences in fresh vegetable spending in Guilford County, North Carolina. We create a geo-coded spatial-temporal database for both human factors and natural factors to understand why food deserts have become a serious issue in a county with many farming activities. We find that residents living in food deserts do not buy enough fresh vegetables compared with their counterparts, even when they are shopping at full-service grocery stores. Social-economic factors are most sensitive and are important determinants of fresh food demand. Using an agent-based toy model, we find that fresh vegetable demand in each census tract in Guilford County varies to a large extent. The results suggest that the formation of food deserts may root from the demand side.