Building the evidence base for community gardens as an environmental strategy to promote consumption of fruits and vegetables

Fruit and vegetable consumption reduces chronic disease risk, yet the majority of Americans consume fewer than the recommended 5 to 9 servings a day. Inadequate access to fresh produce is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to low consumption of healthy foods. Emerging evidence shows the effectiveness of community gardens in increasing access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Two complementary evaluations explored the association of community garden participation and fruit and vegetable consumption in rural communities. Participants in a rural community garden intervention completed self-administered surveys. Study results show that frequent participation in a community garden was associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption. Individuals who worked in a community garden at least once a week were more likely to report eating fruits and vegetables than those participating less than once a week (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.6, 14.4). Telephone surveys were also conducted with a random sample of 1,000 residents in the intervention area. Results show that 5% of rural residents reported participating in a community garden. Study results indicate a similar relationship between participation in a community garden and fruit and vegetable consumption. Individuals who report participating in a community garden were more likely to report eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables than those not participating in community gardens (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.4, 7.9). These studies support the evidence that community gardens are a promising strategy for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption in rural communities.