Information Hub: Healthy & Affordable Food in Glassboro

A comprehensive, interactive platform showcasing the food environment and food resources in Glassboro, New Jersey

Overview

This information hub is a product of the Glassboro Food and Health Equity Project, administered by Rowan University's Community Planning + Visualization Lab and sponsored by New Jersey Health Initiatives. Several members of the Glassboro Health Equity Coalition and students of Rowan University were involved in this project.

About 22% of the approximately 20,000 residents in Glassboro live below the poverty line, compared with 7.6% of all Gloucester County residents. It is vital for Glassboro residents to be able to access healthy food resources regardless of their economic status or level of need. Thus, the purpose of this digital hub is to share free data on local, healthy, and affordable food with Glassboro residents, visualized as a series of maps that include important information about the various types of food resources in the area (e.g., locations, phone numbers, and operating hours).

Glassboro residents and stakeholders are invited to assist the project team in updating the data or adding new resources. Please submit edits to our database by filling out the form linked below. The first version of the story map was created and published in 2022 and will be updated annually.

Note: The web maps include information on full-size and small grocery stores, convenience stores that sell fresh or healthy foods, emergency food distributors such as food pantries, farms, community gardens, and food education/training programs. Restaurants, gas stations, and most chain convenience stores do not appear on the maps.

Food Resource Maps

Food Resources in Glassboro

Map 1 above depicts the different food resources available in Glassboro, categorized by type. Click and drag to pan around the map and use the zoom buttons for a closer or fuller view. Clicking on a point will display information about a food resource such as its name, address, type, and operating hours. Residential zones are depicted in yellow, and the green zones depict walk-time to each food resource.

Glassboro Food Resource Walkshed

Map 2 displays the areas either a half-mile or quarter-mile away from a food resource via walking. The darker areas are the result of overlap, meaning those areas are within walking distance of multiple food resources. Food resources are displayed by type for context.

Indicators of Potential Disadvantage in Glassboro

Indicators of Potential Disadvantage (IPD) data comes from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and creates a score ranging from 0-21 based on nine different demographic factors. Map 3 shows Glassboro census tracts and their IPD scores. Clicking on a census tract will provide the final IPD score and the percentages for all nine factors involved in determining the final score: (1) female, (2) older adult, (3) young, (4) foreign-born, (5) ethnic minority, (6) racial minority, (7) low income, (8) low English proficiency, and (9) disabled. Higher IPD scores indicate the presence of potentially disadvantaged populations in a census tract. The IPD analysis comes from a study of the county Philadelphia metro region and is a comparative study between census tracts in the region.


Glassboro Food Environment

Top (left): The SHOP Food Pantry | Top (right): Rowan Fresh For All Program | Bottom: Samaritan Food Pantry

Glassboro has a diverse range of food resources, including food pantries, locally-owned grocery stores, and farm stands. Many of the food resources are clustered around Delsea Drive, which is the main artery running through Glassboro. The borough also contains many emergency food services such as food pantries and soup kitchens, which are free services for those in need.

Clockwise (from top left): Shoprite produce section, Aldi produce section, Aldi, Shoprite

Produce, dairy and meat sold at Heritage's Dairy Store

The majority of commercial food resources in Glassboro are chain corporations, such as Aldi, Shoprite, and Heritage's. However, there are also smaller, locally-owned businesses like Casa Rocies and Glassboro Deli and Produce. There are also farms and farm stands scattered across the borough, including Summit City Farms and Winery, which sells fresh, seasonal produce and offers additional services and activities.

Glassboro Community Garden

Glassboro is also home to multiple emergency food distributors and community food resources. Community gardens such as the Glassboro Community Garden provide land for residents to grow their own food to improve food security. Additionally, charitable organizations run food pantries that aid residents who need groceries or a hot meal. Educational resources are also available for residents and families seeking advice and assistance in establishing food security for themselves.

How You Can Participate

Additional Info

Sponsor: New Jersey Health Initiatives, a grant funding agency of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,  https://www.njhi.org/ 

Partners: Glassboro Health Equity Coalition, Rowan University Community Planning + Visualization Lab

Data Sources: DVRPC (demographic and IPD data), Rowan University Community Planning + Visualization Lab, NJ Transit (bus routes and bus stops

Acknowledgements: Martha Nealer, Dave Walters

Map created by Jack Meyers, GIS Intern, Community Planning + Visualization Lab, Rowan University

Project director: Mahbubur Meenar, Ph.D., Director, Community Planning + Visualization Lab, Rowan University,  https://www.planviz.org/food-health-equity