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A vegetation analysis of Chinatown markets and mainstream supermarkets in a culturally
diverse urban environment. (Oral Presentation)

My Lien T. Nguyen1, Katherine Doherty1, Julia Wieting2

1
    Department of Botany, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
2
    Department of Linguistics, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA

Introduction
Food markets are rich sites of ethnobotanical information. In culturally diverse areas, food markets
provide information regarding an area’s (1) food plant richness, (2) cultural groups, and (3) cultural
food plant assemblages. Although an area of high cultural diversity, little research has been
conducted in the food markets of Honolulu, Hawai’i.
Objectives
(1) To analyze the food plant richness of selected Chinatown markets in comparison to mainstream
supermarkets in Honolulu, Hawai’i. (2) To test the use of vegetation analysis to compare
association between food plants and similarities between markets to identify speciality markets.
Methods
Surveys and mapping of food plants at three market areas in Chinatown and three mainstream
supermarkets were conducted between February and March 2006. Microsoft Excel and the
Community Analysis Package programs were used to analyze plant richness of vendors within
Chinatown market areas and with the mainstream supermarkets.
Results
The Chinatown market areas included 12 smaller vendors, ranging from two to five vendors per
market area. 293 ‘fresh’ food plants were recorded in all markets combined; the average for
mainstream supermarkets 143 ? 12 and Chinatown market areas 94 ? 15. Mainstream and
Chinatown market areas share in common 7% (21/293) of the entire plant list. Separately, the
mainstream supermarkets have 35% (77/221 mainstream total) of food plants in common,
compared to about 1% (2/155 Chinatown total) in common among Chinatown vendors. Allium cepa
L. and A. sativum L were found in all markets. TWINSPAN analysis shows similarity groupings of
mainstream supermarkets, vendor-identified as ‘Filipino’ or ‘Vietnamese’ markets, or specialty
fruits.
Conclusion
This study provides updated and empirical data on the food plant richness of culturally diverse,
Honolulu, Hawai’i (U.S.). Mainstream supermarkets have a greater assemblage of food plants than
Chinatown market areas. Mainstream supermarkets may be viewed as ‘generalists’ while the
Chinatown market areas and vendors may be ‘specialists’ for an ethnic or cultural group or
commodity. A vegetation analysis approach is applicable to market surveys, indicating similar
markets and associated plant assemblages.

Keywords:

Selected References
1. Nguyen, My Lien T. 2005. Cultivated plant collections in market places. Ethnobotany Research &
Applications 3: 005-015.
2. Nguyen, My Lien T. 2005. Substitutions, insertions, and deletions: evolution in the assemblage of
Vietnamese food plants. Pages 21-45, 120, 129-140 In: Community dynamics and functional
stability: a recipe for cultural continuity in the Vietnamese diaspora, Ph.D. Dissertation. University
of Hawai’i at Manoa.
3. Wester, Lyndon L. and Dina Chuensanguansat. 1994. Adoption and Abandonment of SE Asian
Plants. People-Plant Relationships: Setting Research Priorities. The Haworth Press.

Presenting Author: Julia Wieting, giuliagulia@gmail.com