A neighbourhood-level analysis of fruit and vegetable access in Saskatoon’s grocery stores

1. A neighbourhood-level analysis of fruit and vegetable access in Saskatoon’s grocery stores Sugandhi del canto, phd candidate Department of community health and epidemiology University of Saskatchewan

2. Acknowledgements • Supervisor: Dr. Rachel Engler-Stringer • Thesis committee: Drs. NazeemMuhajarine, Bonnie Janzen, SylviaAbonyiand Scott Bell • Research team at Smart Cities, Healthy Kids (Saskatchewan Population Health Research Unit): • Tracy Riddalls • Joel Heitmar • JennDonlevy • DuvaragaSivajohanathan

3. Overview • Introduction to study and Saskatoon • Objectives • Methods • Results • Conclusions • Questions and comments

4. Distance to Nearest Supermarket Kershaw T., Creighton T., Markham T., Marko J. (2010). Food accessin Saskatoon. Saskatoon: Saskatoon Health Region. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

5. Study Objectives • What are the differences in food store distribution? • Are there differences in fruit and vegetable (F/V) access* in grocery stores across neighbourhoods? • Are there differences in F/V access in neighbourhoods with higher populations of Aboriginal people? • * Access = price and availability

6. Methods • 60 residential neighbourhoods grouped into high, mid and low SES based on Material and Social Deprivation Index • 131 food stores in these neighbourhoods • 24 grocery stores • 92 convenience stores • 15 specialty stores • Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Stores (NEMS-S): 10 food categories assessed for price, availability and quality • Fresh and frozen F/V in grocery stores parsed out for further analysis

7. TABLE 1: Distribution of grocery and convenience stores by neighbourhood-level SES †Includes all grocery, convenience and specialty food stores. As such, percentages in the last two columns will not equal 100% *p=0.007 **p=0.052

8. TABLE 2: Fruit and vegetable access *p=0.035 **p=0.023 ***p=0.02 ****p=0.037 *****p=0.001

9. Discussion & Conclusions • Neighbourhoods of lower SES and those with a higher proportion of Aboriginal residents experienced higher prices for F/V. • There is a disproportionately high distribution of convenience stores in lower SES neighbourhoods, characterizing them as food swamps . • Findings confirm previous research that there are inequities experienced by the city’s Aboriginal population.

10. Study Strengths and Limitations Strengths • All food stores were measured • First study in Saskatoon to measure in-store offerings • Provides a strong base upon which to compare Saskatoon with other Canadian cities Limitations • Cross-sectional approach misses seasonal variation • Small sample size (n=24 grocery stores) • Limited array of F/V in NEMS-S

11. References • Morland K, Filomena S. Disparities in the availability of fruits and vegetables between racially segregated urban neighbourhoods. Public Health Nutrition 2007:10(12), 1481–1489 • Kershaw T, Creighton T, Markham T, Marko J. Food access in Saskatoon. 2010: Saskatoon Health Region. • Glanz K, Sallis JF, Saelens BE, Frank LD. Healthy nutrition environments: concepts and measures. Am J health Promot 2005; 19(5): 330-333 • Willliams LK, Thornton L, Ball K, Crawford D. Is the objective food environment associated with perceptions of the food environment?Pub Health Nut. 2012; 15(2): 291-298. • Kershaw T., Creighton T., Markham T., Marko J. (2010). Food access in Saskatoon. Saskatoon: Saskatoon Health Region. • Egger G., Swinburn, B. An “ecological” approach to the obesity pandemic. BMJ, 1997;315: 477-480 • Larsen K, Gilliland J. Mapping the evolution of 'food deserts' in a Canadian city: Supermarket accessibility in London, Ontario, 1961–2005. International Journal of Health Geographics2008, 7:16. • Pouliot N, Hamelin AM. Disparities in fruit and vegetable supply: A potential health concern in the greater Quebec City area. Public Health Nutr 2009 Nov;12(11):2051-9. • Smoyer-Tomic KE, Spence JC, Amrhein C. Food Deserts in the Prairies? Supermarket Accessibility and Neighborhood Need in Edmonton, Canada. The Professional Geographer 2006;58(3): 307-326 • Pampalon R, Hamel D, Gamache P, Raymond G. A deprivation index for health planning in Canada. Chronic Disease in Canada. 2009; 29(4): 178-191.

12. Thank you! For further inquiries: sugandhi.w@gmail.com