Primary Grocery Shopping Location is Associated With Vegetable Consumption in Underserved Communities

This paper characterizes the relationship between primary grocery shopping location (i.e., primary store type) and food security status, fruit and vegetable consumption, and perceptions of the food environment.

Survey data from shoppers in predominantly lower-income urban areas were analyzed to identify associations with primary store type (supermarket, supercenter, buying club, or small grocery store).

Among respondents (n = 698), most reported a supermarket as their primary store type (67.5%). There were no associations between primary store type and food security or fruit consumption, but vegetable intake was higher for small grocery store (2.00 times/d) and supermarket customers (1.82 times/d) compared with supercenter shoppers (1.52 times/d, P = 0.006 and 0.04, respectively). Small stores were also rated as having more affordable produce than supermarkets (P < 0.001), and perceived affordability was associated with higher vegetable intake (P = 0.009).

Understanding shoppers' perceptions of food stores may help identify targets for improving diet.