Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Zabriskie, Queen
Area of Concentration
Biology and Sociology
Abstract
The local food environment is the proximal access of food retailers within a residential area. It comprises three domains, physical, social and individual or perceptions. Within these domains four aspects of the local food environment are recognized, community, consumer, information and organizational nutrition environment. For this thesis, I explore the physical domain of the local consumer food environment of Sarasota, Florida and how access to healthy food choices varies between census tracts with varying median household incomes. To measure access I used a mixed methods approach including the Nutrition Environment Measures Study Survey for stores (NEMS-S) and qualitative journals. A total of 25 food outlets, ranging from grocery, convenience and ethnic food stores were surveyed. These outlets are within 14 various census tracts across four economic quintiles. Results demonstrate that access to healthy food choices within the local consumer environment is stratified by median household income. This research is an effort to expand the understanding of the local food environment and contribute to current research for continued efforts investigating this space.
Recommended Citation
Ramsamooj, Elizabeth, "THE LOCAL CONSUMER FOOD ENVIRONMENT OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA: AN ASSESSMENT OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES BY MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME" (2020). Theses & ETDs. 5985.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5985