Understanding Local Food Environments, Food Policies, and Food Terminology A Study of Two NYC Neighborhoods Understanding Local Food Environments, Food Policies, and Food Terminology 1 Understanding Local Food Environments, Food Policies, and Food Terminology A Study of Two NYC Neighborhoods With the increase in obesity and other diet- The Hunter College New York City Food related health issues and the persistence of food Policy Center conducted a short survey in insecurity among many vulnerable populations, East Harlem and the Upper East Side to explore the need for transformative changes to our food residents’ understanding of food insecurity, food systems and local food environments is critical. shopping and cooking behaviors, and awareness To improve population health, and the health of of relevant food policy issues. This survey was New York city residents, it is necessary to better performed to understand knowledge, attitudes, understand the differences and similarities and behaviors around food, and to inform across neighborhood food environments. policymaking that addresses food-related health inequities in New York City. Understanding Local Food Environments, Food Policies, and Food Terminology 2 Suggested Citation: Platkin C, Kwan A, Zarcadoolas C, Dinh-Le C, Hou N, Cather A. Understanding Local Food Environments, Food Policies, and Food Terminology: A Study of Two NYC Neighborhoods. Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center, Hunter College, 2018. Available at: http://www.nycfoodpolicy.com /understandinglocalfoodenvironments Acknowledgements: We thank the New York City Council and Hunter College for their continued support. We also thank the Hunter College Nutrition Department, the 2015-2016 Hunter College nutrition students for administering this survey and the East Harlem and the Upper East Side communities for their participation. We also thank Amy Ackermann for designing this report. All views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of those we interviewed, the City Council, Hunter College or the City University of New York. Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center 3 What is Food Insecurity? The USDA defines food insecurity as the “limited didn’t last and they didn’t have money to get or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate more; and they couldn’t afford to eat balanced and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to meals. This is distinct from hunger, which can be acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable a consequence of food insecurity and refers to ways.”¹ The USDA further adds that households the physiological sensation, as opposed to the that are food insecure report three conditions: economic and social context associated with worrying whether their food would run out before food insecurity. being able to buy more; the food they bought In 2014, 1.37 million New Yorkers Currently, nearly 1.8 million low-income (16.4%) reported being food insecure.² New Yorkers rely on food assistance from This percentage climbs to nearly 20% the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Program (SNAP) (former, “food stamps”).³ How is the City of New York Working to Improve Food Environments? The city of New York is working to ensure and Shop Healthy NYC, work with community its residents have enough nutritious food to members to support access to adequate and eat through various initiatives in partnership healthy grocery store options among vulnerable with local community-based and nonprofit populations. Additionally, NYC Food Standards organizations. aim to create healthier workplaces by setting nutritional restrictions and minimums to improve Current initiatives in New York City that address dietary intake of foods purchased and served by food insecurity/hunger include educational all New York City agencies. nutrition programs for children in preschools and at farmers’ markets, mobile food carts to While there are numerous programs and ini- increase access to fresh produce in underserved tiatives in place that address hunger and food communities, and additional financial assistance insecurity, there is a lack of understanding of for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ mar- what community residents think about food, kets. Partnership programs, such as FRESH food policy, and food insecurity. Understanding Local Food Environments, Food Policies, and Food Terminology 4 people participated in the study. Of these, 183 Methods were from EH and 130 from UES. The Center conducted a short quantitative sur- The Center selected these street corners for vey in two New York City neighborhoods: East survey recruitment based on pedestrian traffic Harlem (EH) and the Upper East Side (UES). data collected by the City of New York and the Hunter College research assistants did on-street Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Along intercept interviews (i.e., subway stops and East 86th Street, for example, foot traffic can street corners with heavy foot traffic) in East reach 3,000 people per hour. Similarly, the foot Harlem (zip codes of 10029, 10035) and the traffic on East 68th Street, near Hunter College, Upper East Side (zip codes of 10021, 10028, ranges between 2,500-3,500 people per hour 10044, 10065, 10075, 10128), and asked during midday and evening hours. While East individuals who passed by to participate in a Harlem has less foot traffic than the Upper East survey (Figure 1). Those who expressed interest Side, 125th Street (a major commercial street) were read a consent form, gave verbal consent, sees approximately 1,000-1,500 people per and completed the survey by hand. In total, 313 hour during evening peak hours. Figure 1: Map of recruitment locations for survey Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center 5 79% 50% 44% 31% 29% 26% 13% 13% 12% 9% 7% 6% 4% 3% 2% 2% Demographics Education – City Data (Figure 2) Asian Black Hispanic Other White Two or more races NYC DATA⁴ NYC CHP-UES CHP-EH 82% The following are data taken from the New York City Community Health 41% 39% 38% 36% Profiles (CHP), as well as from the 2010 79% Census (Figures 2-4). 26% 20% 15% ⁴ Data taken from Community Health Profiles and 2010 3% Census. Data for50% Race and Ethnicity - City Data tables 44% do not add to 100% because Hispanic was reported 31% separately in 2010 Census. 29% High school or less High school graduate College graduate 26% or some college 13% 13% 12% 9% 7% 6% 4% 3% 2% 2% NYC CHP-UES CHP-EH Race/Ethnicity – City Data (Figure 3) Asian Black Hispanic Other White Two or more races NYC CHP-UES CHP-EH 79% 50% 44% 79% 31% 29% 26% 13% 13% 12% 9% 7% 6% 50% 4% 3% 2% 2% 44% 31% 29% 26% Asian Black Hispanic Other White Two or more races 13% 13% 12% 9% 7% NYC CHP-UES CHP-EH 6% 4% 3% 2% 2% Age – City Data (Figure 4) Asian Black Hispanic Other White Two or more races NYC CHP-UES CHP-EH 38% 32% 31% 24% 24% 23% 22% 22% 18% 14% 12% 12% 11% 11% 5% 0-17 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+ NYC CHP-UES CHP-EH Understanding Local Food Environments, Food Policies, and Food Terminology 6 college educated, and only 3% without a high WHAT WE FOUND school degree).⁵ The majority of the Upper East Side respondents The majority of East Harlem respondents were white (82%) and college educated (83%). were black (32%) or Hispanic (45%). Only 5% of respondents held a high school One-quarter (25%) were college educated. degree or less. Nearly three-quarters of Over three-quarters (81%) had an income of respondents (74%) reported an income of less than $50,000, and 45% participated $50,000 or more. Nearly all of the Upper in some government assistance program. East Side respondents (95%) indicated they The East Harlem Community Health Profile did not participate in a Women, Infants and reports 81% of residents in East Harlem as Children (WIC) or government food assistance black or Hispanic. The CHP also indicates 26% program. These figures mirror the official de- held less than a high school degree, while our mographics in NYC’s Community Health Profile survey indicated 43% of respondents held (CHP) of the Upper East Side (79% white, 82% only a high school degree or less.⁶ Age (Figure 5) Upper East Side East Harlem 18-24 10% 8% 8% 8% 18-24 2518-34-24 6% 6% 18-24 18-24 10% 10% 5% 5% 21% 21% 16% 20%25-34 3525-44-34 25-34 25-34 16% 16% 20% 20% 14% 14% 35-44 4535-54-44 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 13% 45-54 5545-64-54 13% 13% 17% 17% 22% 22% 20% 55-64 55-64 20% 20%55-64 6555-74-64 13% 13% 13% 65-74 75+65-74 15% 15% 65-74 65-74 Race / Ethnicity (Figure 6) Upper East Side East Harlem 3% 8% 5% 12% 3% 3% 8% 5% 3% 8% 12% Asian Asian 5% 4% 3% 12% 3% Asian Asian 1% 4% Asian Asian 3% 1% Black 4% Black 1% 1% 3% Black Black Black 3% Black Black 1% Hispanic Hispanic 1% Black 33% Black Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic 33% Mixed 33% Mixed Hispanic White Mixed Mixed Mixed Mixed Hispanic White 45% Other Hispanic82% Other White 45% Other 82% Other 45% Other 82% Other White White White White White White Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center 7 Education (Figure 7) Upper East Side East Harlem 5% 5% 5% 10% 10% 10% 12% 12% 12% High school or less HighHigh school school or lessor less High schoolHigh school or less or less High school or less 15% 15% High school 15% High school High school Post- Post- Post- Some college Some Somecollege college Some college or less Some college or less Some college or less graduate graduate graduate 44% 44% 44% College graduate 48% CollegeCollege graduate graduate 48% CollegeCollege graduate graduate 48% College graduate 35% 35% Post-graduate 35% PostPost-graduate-graduate