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Using Mixed Methods to Describe a Spatially Dynamic Food Environment in Rural Dominican Republic

Equity Focus

This study targets the effect of food trucks for low-income households

Case Summary

The project describes the food environment and surrounding infrastructure of a rural community in the northeastern part of the Dominican Repbulic where the population are net buyers of food and models the influence of that environment on fruit and vegetable consumption using geographic information systems (GIS). Thirty female household representatives participated in individual interviews, which lasted approximately 45 min and were conducted in Spanish. The predictive surface was able to accurately predict the fruit and vegetable consumption of 11 (47%) participant households along the main road. The percent difference between household consumption and the predictive surface for six (26%) participant households on the main road was 100 or less.

Lessons Learned

• The produce trucks that visit the study area have a positive impact on fruit and vegetable consumption among the households they serve. Wealthier households living off the trucks' service route rely on other food sources, which may not be accessible to lower-income households because of high transportation costs. Further investigation for the purpose of refining this model will focus on household utilization, availability, and nutritional impact of the produce trucks.

LINK TO CASE STUDY