Effects of the Santa Fe Farmers' Market Children's Nutrition Program on Students' Willingness to Try Fruits and Vegetables

The present study planned and implemented a new farmers’ market (FM) at a WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) clinic in North Carolina, of which WIC FM Nutrition Program (FMNP) participants were the main priority population. The purpose of this FM was to provide convenience and improve access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in the community and to increase the FMNP coupon redemption rate. The main objective of this study was to describe the overall process and key strategies involved in implementing a FM at a WIC clinic. A community-based participatory research design using different formative methods documented the process and key inputs in FM implementation. Local farmers, program administrators, and community advocates were involved in documenting the implementation process. Multiple formative methods included direct observation and semistructured interviews with staff and farmers (n = 13). A community partnership was key in implementing the FM. The market operated weekly over the course of 24 weeks, involved 12 WIC-approved farmers, and featured over 50 types of fresh fruits and vegetables. The FMNP coupon redemption rate at the county level increased from 51.3% to 62.9%. The results demonstrate that a FM can be successfully located near a WIC clinic with positive effects of increasing availability to fresh fruits and vegetables for a low-income population and revenue for local farmers.

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Farmers Market Nutrition Program Provides Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e549312006-011 ◽

2005 ◽

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Nutrition Program ◽

Farmers Market

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Feasibility of a farm-to-WIC intervention

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980019001976 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (18) ◽

pp. 3405-3415

Author(s):

Jennifer Di Noia ◽

Dorothy Monica ◽

Alla Sikorskii ◽

Karinna Gonzalez ◽

Lina Abuhadba

Keyword(s):

Nutrition Education ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Implementation Fidelity ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Programme Implementation ◽

Nutrition Program ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Level Data ◽

Communication And Coordination ◽

Stakeholder Communication

AbstractObjective:To examine whether an intervention consisting of a WIC-based farmers’ market, nutrition education, recipe demonstrations and tastings, and handouts could be implemented as intended and the acceptability of the programme to recipients. The availability, variety and prices of fruits and vegetables (F&V) and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program voucher redemption rate at the site with market (relative to the rate among fourteen other WIC agency sites) also were examined.Design:Site-level data were used to evaluate programme implementation. Acceptability was assessed with participant data.Setting:A large, New Jersey-based, urban WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) agency.Participants:Fifty-four women who purchased F&V at the market.Results:Gaps in stakeholder communication and coordination, F&V selling out by midday and staffing levels affected implementation fidelity. On average, 12 (sd 3) F&V were available daily at the market (twenty-five unique F&V in total). For thirteen of nineteen items, prices were lower at the WIC-based market than area farmers’ markets. The voucher redemption rate at the site with the market (46 %) was higher than the rate among the fourteen other sites (39 %; P < 0·01). The mean rating of satisfaction with the programme was 6·9 (sd 0·6) on a 7-point scale. All participants reported intending to purchase F&V again at the market, owing to the convenient location, quality of the F&V and helpfulness of the staff. Improving F&V availability and variety were recommended.Conclusions:The intervention is feasible with improved stakeholder communication and coordination, F&V availability and variety, and staffing.

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Implementation of a WIC clinic farmers’ market improves accessibility and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among WIC farmers’ market nutrition program participants

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition ◽

10.1080/19320248.2018.1491364 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 838-849

Author(s):

Lanae Ball ◽

Jesse Andrews ◽

Kenneth Gruber ◽

Jigna Dharod

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Nutrition Program ◽

Farmers Market

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Integrated Program Enhancements Increased Utilization of Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/133.6.1841 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 133 (6) ◽

pp. 1841-1844 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Elizabeth J. Conrey ◽

Edward A. Frongillo ◽

Jamie S. Dollahite ◽

Matthew R. Griffin

Keyword(s):

Nutrition Program ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Integrated Program

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Caregiver perceptions of a fruit and vegetable prescription programme for low-income paediatric patients

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980018000964 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 2497-2506 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Amy Saxe-Custack ◽

Heather Claire Lofton ◽

Mona Hanna-Attisha ◽

Colleen Victor ◽

Gwendolyn Reyes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Low Income ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Good Health ◽

Social Environments ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Data Saturation ◽

Perceived Impact

AbstractObjectiveThe physical and social environments that surround children should support good health. However, challenges with food security and access prevent many children from consuming a healthy diet, which is critical to proper growth and development. The present study sought to gain a better understanding of primary care initiatives to address these issues in a low-income setting.DesignFollowing the relocation of a paediatric clinic to a farmers’ market building and the implementation of a fruit and vegetable prescription programme, researchers conducted thirty-two semi-structured interviews with caregivers. Researchers elicited caregivers’ perceptions of clinic co-location with the farmers’ market; experiences with the prescription programme; opinions of the farmers’ market; and perceived impact on child consumption of fresh produce. Interview recordings were transcribed for textual analysis. Using thematic analysis, researchers examined qualitative data to identify patterns across transcripts and formulate emerging themes. Researchers concluded when data saturation was reached.SettingFlint, Michigan, USA.SubjectsThe majority of participants were female (91 %) and African American (53 %).ResultsFour recurrent themes emerged during interviews: (i) convenience of relocation; (ii) attitude towards prescription programme; (iii) challenges with implementation; and (iv) perceived impact of combined interventions. Caregivers indicated that the co-location and prescription programme increased family shopping at the farmers’ market, improved access to high-quality produce and improved food security.ConclusionsA fruit and vegetable prescription programme involving a partnership between a farmers’ market and paediatric clinic was perceived as effective in improving food security, food access and child consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

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