Do food deserts exist in Calgary, Canada?

A significant amount of research has examined supermarket accessibility, and food deserts have been identified among high-need residents. However, little research has explored the changes that occur in terms of access to healthy food when taking farmers' markets into consideration. Furthermore, few researchers have emphasized communities with large populations of children and seniors. This study investigated the accessibility of supermarkets and farmers' markets in the city of Calgary, Canada. Two communities with proportionately large populations of children and seniors coupled with low income levels and limited access to healthy food sources, were identified as food deserts. The results also suggested that farmers' markets provide surrounding neighbourhoods with significant benefits, even though the overall alleviating effects on the lack of access to healthy food are limited. Les deserts alimentaires sont-ils presents a Calgary, Canada ? De nombreux travaux de recherche ont etudie l'accessibilite aux supermarches et ont revele une association entre les deserts alimentaires et les residents ayant des besoins criants. Cependant, peu de travaux se sont penches sur les changements qu'entraine la prise en compte des marches de producteurs pour faciliter l'acces a des aliments sains. En outre, peu de chercheurs ont privilegie les communautes composees d'un grand nombre d'enfants et de personnes âgees. Une exploration de la question de l'accessibilite aux supermarches et aux marches de producteurs a ete menee dans la ville de Calgary, Canada. Deux communautes ayant des populations relativement elevees d'enfants et de personnes âgees, des faibles revenus et un approvisionnement reduit en aliments sains ont ete identifiees comme des deserts alimentaires. Il ressort egalement de l'etude que les marches de producteurs apportent des benefices significatifs aux quartiers environnants, meme si l'attenuation des consequences du manque d'acces a des aliments sains est de portee limitee.

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