211392 Produce for the people: How farmer's markets and produce stands are changing nutrition environments in California's Central Valley

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 4:30 PM

Genoveva Islas-Hooker, MPH , Ccropp, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP), funded by The California Endowment, is a partnership between public health departments and community-based organizations in California's Central Valley. The program was formed to reduce barriers to healthy food and physical activity opportunities in target communities, where obesity rates have been rapidly increasing in both children and adults. This panel will highlight the work of CCROPP grantees to bring farmer's markets and produce stands to low-income Central Valley communities, in an effort to improve the nutrition environment and reduce the prevalence of obesity.

Residents of low-income neighborhoods have historically lacked adequate access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Farmer's markets and produce stands are becoming an increasingly desirable means of bringing local produce to area residents at an affordable price. In the Central Valley, a region of year-round agricultural bounty but also extreme poverty, CCROPP has worked to install or enhance farmer's markets and produce stands as part of a plan to improve food access, promote healthy eating, and reduce obesity rates in the region. The grantees of CCROPP will disseminate their successes, challenges and lessons learned to a broad public health audience.

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the roll that farmer’s markets and produce stands in low-income, rural areas have in improving access to fresh produce List three non-traditional partners with whom CCROPP grantees worked to develop farmer’s markets and produce stands Describe several methods used by CCROPP grantees to engage their respective communities in their work with farmer’s markets and produce stands

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: MPH degree and regional program coordinator for the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.