As public and private resources are increasingly being directed towards the elimination of food deserts
in urban areas, proper measurement of food access is
essential. Amelioration has been approached through the
use of farmers markets, virtual grocery stores, and corner
store programs, but properly situating these assets in
neighborhoods in need requires localized data on both the
location and content of food outlets and the populations
served. This paper examines the reliability of current
techniques for identifying food deserts, and identifies some
of the flaws in those approaches. Information derived from
geographic information systems (GIS) mapping is the
predominant means of determining food availability. In this
study, food access in Bridgeport, CT, is examined utilizing
both computer-based GIS mapping and on-the-ground
observations. While the GIS output indicates generalized
food accessibility issues, supplementation by survey data
reduces the geographic extent of the food desert problem.
Still, nearly 60,000 people (40 % of the population) reside
in neighborhoods served only by small retailers who provide few healthy food options, and those at inflated prices.
The high opportunity cost of travelling by bus to a major
grocery store may outweigh the direct cost savings, and
residents choose to consume locally available but unhealthy foods