My project is a mixed-methods analysis of the food environment and how community gardens impact cultural preservation and food security in New Americans in Syracuse. Specifically, it analyzed the availability of cultural food items and healthy food items through an audit of food acquisition sites on the North Side of Syracuse. I also conducted interviews with New Americans who participate in the community garden at Salt City Harvest Farm, and food frequency questionnaires of usual intake. The data revealed the importance of ethnic markets on the food environment in Syracuse, something that was not seen in other similar studies. However, it also suggests that available does not equate accessible. I finished by concluding that community gardens can help improve food security and access to cultural foods by growing culturally-important vegetables and by reducing overall food costs during the harvest season.

Links to Project Materials:

Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics 2020, Social Science Projects 2020, 2020