Project Summary:
My research looked at nutrition and food buying in the neighborhood stores. I began by plotting the locations of all stores and markets that sold food within a two-block radius of the Friends Workcamp Center in which we resided. I developed a list of staples and priced these foods, when available, in each of the stores. In addition, I noted the prices of these foods in two suburban stores on the city limits where people from the nearby suburbs do most of their shopping. Finally, I investigated alternatives to shopping in the inner city including Supercupboard programs and food services provided by the Archdiocese of Nutrition Services. After Examining the data, it is evident that there is a lack of variety and availability of food in the shops of the neighborhood. Most food prices are higher in the city, but other items in the suburbs were equally expensive. If people do not have transport out of the area, they have a very limited selection at non-discounted prices. Althought alternatives to food shopping do exist in the city, it appears that the people who need these services the most, do not know they exist.