Barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption among farmers’ market incentive programme users in Illinois, USA

AbstractObjectivePrevious research indicates that low-income individuals often struggle to consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables (F&V). LINK Up Illinois is a farmers’ market incentive programme that aims to increase F&V consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients by improving access to and affordability of locally grown foods. The present research aimed to identify barriers to F&V consumption that exist among users of the LINK Up Illinois programme.DesignCross-sectional.SettingFarmers’ markets in Chicago, Springfield, Northbrook, Woodstock, Aurora and Urbana, IL.SubjectsIn 2016, a volunteer sample of 140 LINK Up Illinois users (mean age 42·5 years; 81·7 % female; 28·7 % African American; 44·0 % obese) completed a survey at participating farmers’ markets across the state. Information on demographics, food shopping behaviours, programme satisfaction, barriers to F&V consumption and frequency of F&V consumption was collected and examined.ResultsApproximately 23 % of survey participants reported consuming F&V ≥3 times/d. The barriers to F&V consumption most often reported by survey participants were the cost of F&V (29·5 %), spoilage (18·6 %), knowing how to cook F&V (8·7 %) and not thinking about F&V when hungry (8·6 %). Results from multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models suggested that reporting one or more barriers was associated with reduced odds of consuming vegetables ≥3 times/d, but not fruits.ConclusionsCost, spoilage and knowledge of cooking are key barriers to F&V consumption that exist among LINK Up Illinois users. Strategies are needed to mitigate these barriers and increase F&V consumption in this population.

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Effectiveness of mobile produce markets in increasing access and affordability of fruits and vegetables among low-income seniors

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020002931 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (17) ◽

pp. 3226-3235

Author(s):

Reece Lyerly ◽

Pasquale Rummo ◽

Sarah Amin ◽

Whitney Evans ◽

Eliza Dexter Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rhode Island ◽

Low Income ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Economic Status ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Populations At Risk ◽

Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjective:Mobile produce markets (MPM) offering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentive programmes have the potential to provide accessible and affordable fruits and vegetables (FV) to populations at risk of food insecurity. The objective of this study is to characterise the customer base of an MPM and describe their participation at twelve market sites serving low-income seniors.Design:In 2018, customers from an MPM in Rhode Island (RI) participated in a cross-sectional survey (n 330; 68 % response rate), which measured dietary patterns, food security and food shopping behaviours. We compared the shopping habits and market experiences of customers who currently received SNAP benefits with those who did not currently receive SNAP benefits.Setting:An MPM in RI which offers a 50 % discount for FV purchased with SNAP benefits.Participants:This study describes current market customers at twelve market sites serving low-income seniors.Results:Market customers were mostly low-income, female, over the age of 50 years and Hispanic/Latino. Most customers received SNAP benefits, and almost half were food insecure. In addition, three quarters of SNAP customers reported their SNAP benefits last longer since shopping at the markets. Mixed logistic regression models indicated that SNAP customers were more likely to report buying and eating more FV than non-SNAP customers.Conclusions:MPM are critical resources of affordable produce and have been successful in improving access to FV among individuals of low socio-economic status in RI. This case study can inform policy and programme recommendations for MPM and SNAP incentive programmes.

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Social marketing for a farmer’s market in an underserved community: A needs assessment

Journal of Public Health Research ◽

10.4081/jphr.2017.815 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Meg Skizim ◽

Melinda Sothern ◽

Ondrej Blaha ◽

Tung Sung Tseng ◽

Lauren Griffiths ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Needs Assessment ◽

Social Marketing ◽

Low Income ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Social Marketing Campaign ◽

Wide Range ◽

Nutrition Assistance ◽

Media Preferences

The aim of the present paper is to assess local residents’ awareness of utilizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase fresh produce at local farmers’ markets, and to determine internet use and media preferences of study participants prior to implementation of a social marketing campaign. A needs assessment was conducted to collect baseline data in an underserved neighbourhood in New Orleans (LA, USA). The study was carried out August 2014-May 2015. The assessment revealed that 73% of the respondents were unaware that the SNAP benefits could be used to purchase food in farmers’ markets; 63% of low-income participants never attended a farmers’ market compared to 27% of mid/high-income. Over 50% of the low-income respondents have access to the internet at least once per day. The results show the potential of raising awareness among a wide range of members in the community. This needs assessment will serve as the foundation for a social marketing intervention, which will be disseminated city-wide.

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Farmers’ market shopping and dietary behaviours among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980015001111 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 2407-2414 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Stephanie B Jilcott Pitts ◽

Qiang Wu ◽

Chelsea L Demarest ◽

Crystal E Dixon ◽

Ciarra JM Dortche ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diet Quality ◽

Low Income ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Dietary Behaviours ◽

Nutrition Assistance ◽

Low Income Consumers

AbstractObjectiveBecause farmers’ markets include a variety of fruits and vegetables, shopping at farmers’ markets would likely improve diet quality among low-income consumers, as well as promote sustainable direct farm-to-consumer business models. However, not much is known about how to promote farmers’ market shopping among low-income consumers. Therefore, the purpose of the present paper was to examine barriers to and facilitators of shopping at farmers’ markets and associations between shopping at farmers’ markets and self-reported dietary behaviours (fruit and vegetable, sugar-sweetened beverage and fast-food consumption) and BMI.DesignCross-sectional analyses of associations between farmers’ market shopping frequency, awareness of markets, access to markets, dietary behaviours and BMI.SettingDepartment of Social Services, Pitt County, eastern North Carolina, USA.SubjectsBetween April and July 2013, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants (n205) completed a quantitative survey.ResultsBarriers to shopping at farmers’ markets included does not accept SNAP/electronic benefit transfer, out of the way and lack of transportation. Farmers’ market shopping was associated with awareness of farmers’ markets (estimate =0·18 (se0·04),P<0·001). Fruit and vegetable consumption was positively associated with farmers’ market shopping (estimate =1·06 (se0·32),P=0·001).ConclusionsOur study is one of the first to examine SNAP participants’ farmers’ market shopping, distance to farmers’ markets and dietary behaviours. Barriers to shopping at farmers’ markets and increasing awareness of existing markets should be addressed in future interventions to increase SNAP participants’ use of farmers’ markets, ultimately improving diet quality in this high-risk group.

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Evaluation of the Farmers’ Markets for Kids programme

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980016001725 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (18) ◽

pp. 3397-3405 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rachel Dannefer ◽

Erica Bryan ◽

Alyce Osborne ◽

Rachel Sacks

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Low Income ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Education Programme ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Farmers Market ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the impact of Farmers’ Markets for Kids, a farmers’ market-based, child-oriented nutrition education programme, on attitudes and behaviours related to preparing and consuming produce among child participants and their caregivers in New York City (NYC).DesignRetrospective pre-test/post-test cross-sectional survey with caregivers of children participating in Farmers’ Markets for Kids classes.SettingFour NYC farmers’ markets where Farmers’ Markets for Kids classes are implemented; these markets serve low-income communities.SubjectsTwo hundred and twelve adult caregivers of children who participated in Farmers’ Markets for Kids classes.ResultsCaregivers reported that children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables had increased since participating in Farmers’ Markets for Kids and that their children more frequently assisted with food preparation; both of these improvements were statistically significant. Caregivers also reported significant improvements in attitudes: since participating in Farmers’ Markets for Kids, their children were more willing to try new fruits and vegetables and caregivers found it easier to prepare fruits and vegetables for their children. Almost all respondents (99 %) reported purchasing more fruits and vegetables since participating in Farmers’ Markets for Kids and 95 % had prepared the programme’s recipes at home.ConclusionsFindings suggest that Farmers’ Markets for Kids may be an effective approach for increasing produce consumption among participating children and improving related attitudes among children and caregivers. This evaluation provides support for future efforts to undertake more rigorous evaluations of such programmes.

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Farmers' Market Utilization among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients in New Orleans, Louisiana: Preliminary Findings

Ethnicity & Disease ◽

10.18865/ed.27.s1.295 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 295

Author(s):

Henry Nuss ◽

Meg Skizim ◽

Hasheemah Afaneh ◽

Lucio Miele ◽

Melinda Sothern

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Internet Use ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Grocery Stores ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Transfer Payments ◽

Nutrition Assistance

Objective: Farmers’ markets are increasingly being promoted as a means to provide fresh produce to poor and underserved communities. However, farmers’ market (FM) use remains low among low-income patrons. The purpose of our study was to examine FM awareness and use, grocery shopping behaviors, and internet use among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.Design: A descriptive analysis of preliminary data was performed to evaluate quantitative baseline data among SNAP recipients between June and August 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana (N=51). Data were collected via a 42-item online survey that included demographics, internet use, FM awareness and use, health information seeking behaviors and fruit and vegetable purchasing behaviors.Results: Less than half of the survey respondents (n=24) had ever been to a FM. Local grocery stores and Wal-Mart were most used for purchasing fruits and vegetables (88% and 84%, respectively). The most common sources of healthy eating information were Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the internet, frequently accessed via smartphones. More than 80% of participants were not aware that local FMs accepted electronic benefit transfer payments as a form of payment.Conclusion: These results support the incorporation of promotional methodology that combines internet-based mobile technology and existing services (eg, WIC) as a viable strategy to improve farmers’ market use among low-income populations. As most participants were not aware that participating FMs accept electronic benefit transfer payments, this fact should be emphasized in promotional material.Ethn Dis. 2017;27(Suppl 1):295-302; doi:10.18865/ed.27.S1.295.

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Racial, Gender, and Age Dynamics in Michigan’s Urban and Rural Farmers Markets: Reducing Food Insecurity, and the Impacts of a Pandemic

American Behavioral Scientist ◽

10.1177/00027642211013387 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000276422110133

Author(s):

Dorceta E. Taylor ◽

Alliyah Lusuegro ◽

Victoria Loong ◽

Alexis Cambridge ◽

Claire Nichols ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Food Assistance ◽

People Of Color ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Assistance Programs ◽

Nutrition Assistance ◽

Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽

Number Of Customers

In recent decades, the number of farmer’s markets has increased dramatically across the country. Though farmers markets have been described as White spaces, they can play important roles in reducing food insecurity. This is particularly true in Michigan where farmer’s markets were crucial collaborators in pioneering programs such as Double-Up Food Bucks that help low-income residents and people of color gain access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food. This article examines the questions: (1) What are the demographic characteristics of the farmers market managers, vendors, and customers and how do these influence market activities? (2) To what extent do farmers markets participate in programs aimed at reducing food insecurity? (3) To what extent do farmers markets serve low-income residents and people of color? and (4) How has the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) affected the operations of farmers markets. This article discusses the findings of a 2020 study that examined the extent to which Michigan’s farmer’s markets served low-income customers and people of color and participated in food assistance programs. The study examined 79 farmers markets and found that 87.3% of the farmer’s market managers are White. On average, roughly 79% of the vendors of the markets are White and almost 18% are people of color. Most of the vendors in the markets participate in nutrition assistance programs. Market managers estimate that about 76% of their customers are White and about 23% are people of color. Farmers markets operated by people of color attract higher numbers of customers and vendors of color than those operated White market managers. Almost half of the farmer’s markets started operations later than usual in 2020 because of the pandemic. More than a third of the markets reported that their funding declined during the pandemic. Moreover, the number of vendors declined at two thirds of the markets and the number of customers dipped at more than 40% of the markets. On the other hand, the number of people requesting food assistance during the pandemic increased in more than half of the markets.

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Three-year trends in dietary behaviours among mothers, teenagers and children from SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education) eligible households across California

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980019003197 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 3-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fred Molitor ◽

Celeste Doerr ◽

John Pugliese ◽

Lauren Whetstone

Keyword(s):

Diet Quality ◽

Low Income ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Age Groups ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Poverty Level ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Dietary Behaviours ◽

Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjective:To examine trends from 2015 to 2017 in dietary behaviours and diet quality among low-income mothers, teenagers and children.Design:Cross-sectional telephone surveys using a validated 24 h dietary assessment.Setting:Randomly sampled households with incomes ≤185 % of the US federal poverty level across California.Participants:Survey participants were 13 247 mothers (≥18 years), 3293 teenagers (12–17 years) and 6043 children (5–11 years). Respondents were mostly Latino.Results:Over the 3-year study period, consumption of fruits and vegetables with and without 100 % fruit juice increased (P ≤ 0·05) by at least 0·3 cups/d for mothers, teenagers and children. Intake of water also increased (P ≤ 0·001) by more than 1 cup/d for mothers and children and 2 cups/d for teenagers. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption was unchanged over the 3 years. Overall diet quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015, improved (P ≤ 0·01) for mothers, teenagers and children. Covariates for the fifteen regression models (three age groups by five outcome variables) included race/ethnicity, age, education for mothers, and gender for teenagers and children.Conclusions:The observed increases in fruit and vegetable intake and improvements in overall diet quality during the 3-year period suggest that low-income Californians may have lowered their risk of preventable diseases. However, more intense or strategic SSB-reduction interventions are required. Regional- or state-level, population-based surveillance of dietary behaviours is useful for public health nutrition policy and programme decision making, and can be used to assess potential trends in future negative health outcomes and related costs associated with poor dietary behaviours within at-risk populations.

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Availability, quality and price of produce in low-income neighbourhood food stores in California raise equity issues

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980018000058 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 1639-1648 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Wendi Gosliner ◽

Daniel M Brown ◽

Betty C Sun ◽

Gail Woodward-Lopez ◽

Patricia B Crawford

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Grocery Stores ◽

Local Health ◽

High Quality ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Food Stores ◽

Convenience Stores ◽

Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjectiveTo assess produce availability, quality and price in a large sample of food stores in low-income neighbourhoods in California.DesignCross-sectional statewide survey.SettingBetween 2011 and 2015, local health departments assessed store type, WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)/SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participation, produce availability, quality and price of selected items in stores in low-income neighbourhoods. Secondary data provided reference chain supermarket produce prices matched by county and month.tTests and ANOVA examined differences by store type; regression models examined factors associated with price.SubjectsLarge grocery stores (n231), small markets (n621) and convenience stores (n622) in 225 neighbourhoods.ResultsProduce in most large groceries was rated high quality (97 % of fruits, 98 % of vegetables), but not in convenience stores (25 % fruits, 14 % vegetables). Small markets and convenience stores participating in WIC and/or SNAP had better produce availability, variety and quality than non-participating stores. Produce prices across store types were, on average, higher than reference prices from matched chain supermarkets (27 % higher in large groceries, 37 % higher in small markets, 102 % higher in convenience stores). Price was significantly inversely associated with produce variety, adjusting for quality, store type, and SNAP and WIC participation.ConclusionsThe study finds that fresh produce is more expensive in low-income neighbourhoods and that convenience stores offer more expensive, poorer-quality produce than other stores. Variety is associated with price and most limited in convenience stores, suggesting more work is needed to determine how convenience stores can provide low-income consumers with access to affordable, high-quality produce. WIC and SNAP can contribute to the solution.

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The impact of financial incentives and restrictions on cyclical food expenditures among low-income households receiving nutrition assistance: a randomized controlled trial

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s12966-021-01223-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sruthi Valluri ◽

Susan M. Mason ◽

Hikaru Hanawa Peterson ◽

Simone A. French ◽

Lisa J. Harnack

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Financial Incentives ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

The United States ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Added Sugar ◽

Food Expenditures ◽

Nutrition Assistance ◽

The Impact ◽

Low Income Households

Abstract Background The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States. Two proposed interventions to encourage healthier food expenditures among SNAP participants have generated significant debate: financial incentives for fruits and vegetables, and restrictions on foods high in added sugar. To date, however, no study has assessed the impact of these interventions on the benefit cycle, a pattern of rapid depletion of SNAP benefits that has been linked to worsening nutrition and health outcomes over the benefit month. Methods Low-income households not currently enrolled in SNAP (n = 249) received benefits every 4 weeks for 12 weeks on a study-specific benefit card. Households were randomized to one of four study arms: 1) incentive (30% incentive for fruits and vegetables purchased with study benefits), 2) restriction (not allowed to buy sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet baked goods, or candy using study benefits), 3) incentive plus restriction, or 4) control (no incentive or restriction). Weekly household food expenditures were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. Results Compared to the control group, financial incentives increased fruit and vegetable purchases, but only in the first 2 weeks after benefit disbursement. Restrictions decreased expenditures on foods high in added sugar throughout the benefit month, but the magnitude of the impact decreased as the month progressed. Notably, restrictions mitigated cyclical expenditures. Conclusions Policies to improve nutrition outcomes among SNAP participants should consider including targeted interventions in the second half of the month to address the benefit cycle and attendant nutrition outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02643576. Retrospectively registered December 22, 2014.

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Caregiver Feeding Practices as Predictors for Child Dietary Intake in Low-Income, Appalachian Communities

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082773 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2773

Author(s):

Mikaela B. McIver ◽

Sarah Colby ◽

Melissa Hansen-Petrik ◽

Elizabeth T. Anderson Steeves

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Young Children ◽

Dietary Intake ◽

Low Income ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Fruit Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Home Availability

The Appalachian region of the U.S. is disproportionately impacted by poverty, obesity, and nutrition-related chronic diseases. Evidence suggests that caregiver feeding practices may promote healthful eating behaviors among children; however, this has not been examined in low-income, rural, Appalachian populations. This study examines caregiver feeding practices as predictors for child diet in low-income Appalachian families, using a cross-sectional analysis of 178 caregivers of young children (ages 2–10 years old), that were recruited from low-income, rural communities in East Tennessee, from November 2017 to June 2018. Caregivers self-reported measures of demographics, feeding practices, and child dietary intake. Multiple linear regression analyses were run, and found that higher use of caregiver modeling positively predicted child vegetable consumption (Beta = 1.02; p = 0.04). Higher caregiver intake of fruits and vegetables positively predicted child fruit consumption (Beta = 0.29; p = 0.02) and vegetable consumption (Beta = 1.56; p < 0.001), respectively. Higher home availability of healthier foods positively predicted child fruit consumption (Beta = 0.06; p = 0.002) and vegetable consumption (Beta = 0.09; p = 0.05). Higher home availability of less healthy foods positively predicted child consumption of high-sugar/high-fat snack foods (Beta = 0.59; p = 0.003). The findings of this study indicate that caregiver modeling, healthy caregiver dietary intake, and healthful home food availability are associated with healthier child dietary intake among young children in low-income, rural, Appalachian areas. Promoting these practices among caregivers may be an important strategy to enhancing dietary intake of children in this hard-to-reach, underserved population.

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