Neighborhood characteristics and healthy food access: A spatial analysis of local and conventional food outlets in Maricopa County, Arizona

Access to healthy food remains a critical public health concern in the United States. A large body of literature suggests that conventional food outlets, such as supermarkets and large grocery stores, are often unevenly distributed across different neighborhoods, contributing to disparities in food access. While local food sources play an increasing role in providing healthy food options, research on their accessibility remains limited. This study uses Maricopa County, one of the most populous counties in the United States, as a case study to examine the spatial patterns of access to both conventional food markets and various types of local food outlets, including farmers markets, community gardens, community supported agriculture (CSA) and mobile food markets. We constructed spatial statistical models to analyze the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and food accessibility. Consistent with prior research, our findings suggest that ethnic minority neighborhoods generally have less access to conventional food markets. However, we found no significant relationship between access to these markets and either Black or low-income neighborhoods. In contrast, community gardens and mobile food markets tend to be located in neighborhoods with higher Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino populations, suggesting that these local food sources play an important role in improving healthy food access in racial and ethnic minority communities. Despite this, access to other local food sources remains uneven. Our study provides important insights into the spatial availability of different local food sources and highlights the need for targeted policy interventions. Expanding incentive programs for farmers markets, improving affordability and participation in CSA programs, increasing financial and operational support for mobile food markets, and providing funding and policy support for community gardens, such as community-led initiatives and zoning protections, can improve access to healthy food in disadvantaged neighborhoods.