Spatial and Social Dimensions of Galapagos Food Environments

This chapter describes the current food environment in the Galapagos and its historical and sociopolitical context. Using market survey data, the chapter describes the spatial distribution of market resources and quality and provides food environment surface maps of quality and access on San Cristobal Island. Next, it uses household survey data to describe food purchasing strategies. Both approaches are critical in order to understand the interaction between empirical measured in markets and experienced food environments navigated by community members. Spatial models suggest patterning of food environments based on market distribution and stock. Households report distance to markets and cost of goods as the most important contributors to household decision-making when grocery shopping. These findings suggest that the food resources surrounding a household is an important contributor to food availability but also that internal household food purchasing strategies can shape the influence of external food environments. These both present key targets for potential future interventions to increase food availability, desirability, and access.