research | Environment
Opposite: This map is a re-creation of the Community Food Availability data published by the Baltimore City Health Department (2009). It shows grocery store density in each Census statistical area in the county.
environment Food Deserts in Baltimore
According to a 2008 study, 65% of Baltimore’s neighborhoods have low or medium healthy food availability.3 Due to a lack of full-service supermarkets and low vehicle ownership in Baltimore’s food desert communities, many residents rely on fast food, carryout, and corner stores located within walking distance. In Baltimore City, the distribution of food store types varies enormously between predominantly AfricanAmerican neighborhoods and predominantly white neighborhoods. The clf’s fall 2010 “Baltimore City Food Environment” report reveals that of all food stores in African-American neighborhoods, 8% are supermarkets and just 1% are farmers’ markets or vendors in covered markets versus 13% and 7%, respectively, in white neighborhoods. Overall, in African-American neighborhoods, 90% of food stores are corner stores, convenience stores, and behind-glass stores—all sources for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.
Baltimore City from a previous study (Glanz, Sallis, Saelens, & Frank, 2007), the clf produced a Healthy Food Availability Index where they found that 43% of predominantly African-American neighborhoods were in the worst category of healthy food availability (versus only 4% of predominantly white neighborhoods), and 68% of white neighborhoods were in the highest category of healthy food availability (versus 19% of African-American neighborhoods). ■
Offerings of healthy foods also differ within similar store types depending on the neighborhood. Using a sample of 78 neighborhoods and 177 food stores in 19