Demographic and landscape-level urban foraging trends in the USA derived from web and mobile app usage

Foraging provides decentralized access to food, medicines and other resources for communities across the planet. In urban environments, foraging can support social cohesion, food justice, and ecosystem restoration. Given growing urban populations and an increasing need for sustainable food systems in cities and surrounding areas, urban foraging is a potentially critical element of food security. This study investigated the social–ecological and demographic dynamics of urban foraging in the USA through analysis of user-generated data from the community-based monitoring application Falling Fruit (fallingfruit.org). Between February 2013 and December 2015, 7434 locations in the USA were uploaded by Falling Fruit users. These locations were analyzed for geo-demographic, landscape-level, and species richness trends using analysis of variance and multiple regression models. Our results indicate high ethnic diversity in gathering communities. We found bimodal income distribution—highest use with the highest median household income category (>$100 000) followed by the lowest income category ($0–$24,999). The demographic variability of gathering communities implies a range of drivers motivating urban foraging—from sustenance to recreation. Future research should consider the role of foraging in the design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of sustainable local food systems for growing urban populations.