When we're looking for a place to live in the city, proximity to a supermarket is often an important consideration. In this classic infographic study by our friends at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), the food deserts of Boston are explored, neighborhood by neighborhood.
Food deserts appear in urban neighborhoods that do not have grocery stores (defined as larger than 7,000 s.f. with a full range of food items), and offer limited alternative options for healthy food. Food access requires availability and affordability. And no, convenience stores and food marts don't count.
Former Mayor Menino pledged to have a grocer in every neighborhood, which is generally true. Only two neighborhoods in Boston technically qualify as having food deserts: West Roxbury and East Boston.
On average, there are 1.6 grocery stores per neighborhood. While most residential neighborhoods in Boston have at least one grocery store, there are exceptions with none, like Bay Village, the North End, Leather District, South Boston Waterfront, and the Longwood Medical Area.
Anyway, a takeaway: while food prices are largely similar from area to area, the incomes differ. Check out the infographic for an exploration on what feeds us in the city.
· A Grocery Store in Every Neighborhood: Boston's Quest to Eliminate Food Deserts [ICIC]
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