Food for thought: unveiling urban transitions in a small US city through the lens of foodscape typologies

Abstract

This paper explores whether changes to a small city’s food landscape can indicate neighbourhood change. We have adapted the conceptual framework in Roe et al. on ‘urban foodscape typologies’ to assess and categorise changes in the urban food environment. Our study focuses on the following inquiry: How can identifying different types of foodscape categories in Newburgh, NY – a small US city – assist in tracking urban trends? This study demonstrates how the Roe et al. framework can be adapted to study food landscapes in small American cities. In addition, we introduce approaches, such as mental mapping, that help identify residents’ perceptions of changes to the foodscape. By understanding the potential challenges and opportunities shifts in the foodscape can cause, small cities can implement strategies to ensure that development and revitalisation are inclusive and beneficial for all residents.