Average Healthy Food Availability Index

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) calculated HFAI scores for all food stores in Baltimore, in summer 2012, using an adapted version of the NEMS-S (Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores) tool. The NEMS-S tool was developed by researchers at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University to measure the nutritional environment of food retail stores and was designed to assess healthy food availability in grocery and convenience stores. CLF obtained a food permit list from the Baltimore City Health Department in August 2011, which includes all sites that sell food, such as stores, restaurants, and temporary locations such as farmers' market stands and street carts. HFAI scores range from zero to 28.5, with higher scores indicating more availability of healthy and whole food in a food store. Source: Johns Hopkins University, Center for a Livable Future Years Available: 2012, 2015