HOW DO YOU GET TO THE GROCERY STORE?

A new USDA study shows that only 68% of SNAP households use their own vehicle to get to the grocery stored compared to 95% of higher income, nonparticipating households (above 185% of the Federal poverty line). About 19% of SNAP households use someone else’s car or ride with someone else, compared with 2% of higher income households. Another 13% of SNAP households walk, bike, or take public transit or a shuttle to the store. More WIC participants drive their own car to do their grocery shopping (87%).

Despite differences in how they go, households do not necessarily shop at the closest store.  Overall, households are, on average, 2.1 miles from the nearest SNAP-authorized supermarket, but their usual store is 3.8 miles away. SNAP households are, on average, just under 2 miles from the nearest SNAP-authorized supermarket but travel 3.4 miles, on average, to the store where they do most of their shopping.

Source: USDA, 3/15, Grocery Shopping