Population density, poverty, and food retail access in the United States: an empirical approach

The United States in recent years has faced public concerns about unhealthy eating patterns, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, high rates of overweight and obesity, and household food insecurity. These concerns have generated a lively policy debate about the adequacy of the food retail environment, especially in low-income areas, and whether and how public policy could intervene to improve the retail environment in underserved areas (USDA Economic Research Service 2009; Rose 2010; Gittelsohn and Lee 2013).