The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48149

Sandra B. Sherman, MS, EdM, EdD, The Food Trust, 1201 Chestnut Street, 4th fl., Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-568-0830 Ext.12, sbsherm@msn.com

In Healthy People 2010, recommendations are set forth to improve the health of population groups, like the urban poor, who are at the highest risk of premature death, disease, and disability. Among the recommendations are ones to increase fruit consumption to two servings a day and vegetable consumption to three servings a day. While consumers with ample economic resources can purchase fresh, high quality fruits and vegetables, select the amount and variety they prefer, and choose where to shop, those with limited economic resources often cannot purchase good quality, affordable, fresh food. This session will describe the Philadelphia community markets sponsored by The Food Trust, using both quantitative and descriptive materials to analyze their impact on the fruit and vegetable consumption of people living in low-income neighborhoods. The market program was designed to create community partnerships to increase the availability of fresh produce and to give people an opportunity to buy, talk about, and taste these foods in a communal setting. One of the unique features was the involvement of community persons in all aspects of the markets, from design to evaluation. Data on attitudes, knowledge, and fruit and vegetable consumption were collected via interviews (sample N=316 over 4 years). Individuals frequenting the markets consumed more fruits and vegetables than when community markets failed to survive economically. Nutrition education, while helpful, was of less efficacy without market access. This session will review the development and implementation of this community-based initiative and share available resources to support behavioral change.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify successful methods of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in low-income communities.
• Identify resources to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among low-cinome individuals.
• Analyze the development of community partnerships as a strategy to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in low-income communities.
• Evaluate the effects of a nutrition education and food access initiative on fruit and vegetable consumption.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Community-Based Partnership

Related Web page: www.thefoodtrust.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.