Effect of fresh fruit availability at worksites on the fruit and vegetable consumption of low-wage employees

Over half of California adults are overweight or obese. To reduce these numbers and improve overall health, Californians should eat a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, and engage in physical activity every day. Unfortunately, according to the California Dietary Practices Survey, California adults consume an average of only 4.1 servings (approx. 2 cups) of fruits and vegetables, well below the 3 ½ to 6 ½ cups recommended for good health. Additionally, 61% of Californians agree that fruits and vegetables are “hard to get at work.” As a result, the California 5 a Day—Be Active! Worksite Program has developed a worksite intervention designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. The purpose of this study was to measure the change in fruit and vegetable consumption in low-wage earning adults when fruit was provided free of charge. The quasi-experimental study recruited matched pairs of worksites and randomly assigned each to an intervention or control condition. After a three month intervention period, employees reported a 39% increase in daily fruit and vegetable consumption. In addition, findings indicated a significant increase in both fruit and vegetable purchasing habits and consumption by participants' families. These findings demonstrate that worksites provide a vital opportunity for affecting the dietary habits of California's families. Business leaders and policy makers must synergize their efforts to create worksites where employees are provided the opportunity to engage in healthy behaviors during the workday. Increasing access to fruit during the workday is an easy, affordable, and sustainable first step.