Rural food accessibility: An analysis of travel impedance and the risk of potential grocery closures

An integrative literature review of small food store research across urban and rural communities in the U.S.

“…To date, food access related research has been conducted largely among urban communities ( Whelan et al, 2002 , Wrigley et al, 2002 ), but more recently, attention has been given to the rural counterpart, where health disparities in food access also exist ( Yeager and Gatrell, 2014 , Yousefian et al, 2011 ). Our integrated review focused on small food stores in rural and urban settings and highlights the lack of studies conducted in rural settings, with over 70% of the 19 manuscripts reviewed conducted in urban settings.…”

“…More recently, research has demonstrated some of the unique challenges that rural areas face. These challenges include things such as a declining customer base, an increase in food store closures, aging ownership, and lack of available small business capital ( Bailey, 2010 , Bustillos et al, 2009 , Kaufman et al, 1997 , Liese et al, 2007 , Yeager and Gatrell, 2014 ). Many rural residents travel long distances to reach the nearest food outlet ( Bitto et al, 2003 , Sharkey and Horel, 2008 ) and this issue is compounded by lack of public and/or individual transportation ( Bitto et al, 2003 , Sharkey and Horel, 2008 ).…”

Can community gardens and farmers' markets relieve food desert problems? A study of Edmonton, Canada

“…However, residents in fringe neighborhoods can always cross the municipal boundary to purchase food, indicating that food access might thus be under-estimated for peripheral neighborhoods. Therefore, this study included all supermarkets, community gardens, and farmers' markets within the city and a 10-kilometer buffering area along the city boundary (Yeaher, & Gatrell, 2014). The supermarket data for Edmonton and the buffering area were obtained from DMTI Spatial Inc. (2013).…”

Characterizing the spatial and temporal patterns of farmers' market visits

“…Alternative food accessibility assessment relies upon the travel distance/time between individual market locations and the residences of prospective customers (Rose and Richards 2004;O'Dwyer & Coveney, 2006;von Oppen, Njehia, & Ijaimi, 1997;Yeager & Gatrell, 2014). In some studies, mode of transportation has also been incorporated.…”