Placement of farm stands in low-income communities increases fruit and vegetable consumption among community residents

INTRODUCTION: Lack of access to fresh fruit and vegetables (F&V) is an important risk factor for inadequate F&V consumption, especially among low-income individuals who are likely to live in communities with limited numbers of fully stocked grocery stores. Placing farmers' markets into these communities is one possible strategy to increase F&V access. The purpose of this study was to test if placement of farm stands (small farmers' markets) in low-income communities increases community residents' F&V consumption. METHODS: A longitudinal pre-post-test study design was used for this study. Study participants were recruited through door-to door surveying in an area 0.5 miles radius from the farm stands. Baseline data was collected before farm stands went into place and post-test data was collected after farm stands had been in place for 2 months. Data on residents' F&V consumption, psychosocial variables related to F&V consumption, and demographic information were collected. Paired sample t-tests and chi-square analyses were used to examine the impact of farm stands on the outcome variables (significance level p<0.05). RESULTS Participants were mostly low-income (78%), female (71%), African American (57%) and Latino (30%). Significant increases were found for consumption of fruit, fruit juice, tomatoes, green salad, and other vegetables (P<0.05). There was also an increase in number of participants who reported awareness of the neighborhood farm stands and that getting to the market was easy. DISCUSSION: This study supports the potential of farmers' markets to increase F&V consumption among residents living in low-income communities.