Farmers' Markets: Nutritional Quality and Healthy Food Access

Introduction: This study’s objective was to evaluate the nutritional quality of farmers’ markets and their use as a strategy for increasing access to healthy food in low-income neighborhoods.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the association of various socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, including acceptance of federal nutrition assistance benefits, with the nutritional quality of a sample of farmers’ markets in California (N = 20).

Results: Produce was the major food category offered at the farmers’ markets; 38% of vendors offered produce, 33% of vendors offered non-produce foods, and the remainder offered hot/ready-to-eat foods or non-food items. Ninety-five percent of the markets accepted federal nutrition benefits, but only 53% of markets displayed visible signage to indicate this. Markets located in census tracts where more people identify as White and were college graduates were associated with more non-produce foods; markets located in census tracts where more households had children and received food stamps were associated with more produce. Farmers’ market census tracts were more economically advantaged (higher median incomes and lower rates of food stamp participation) than the county average.

Discussion: While produce is predominant, farmers’ markets commonly offer foods of limited nutritional quality and are located in higher income areas. Most markets accepted federal nutrition benefits, but over half lacked visible signage indicating acceptance of these benefits. Findings suggest that if farmers’ markets are intended as a healthy food retail strategy, they should be evaluated to ensure they offer a selection of healthful foods and are accessible to low-income populations.

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Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the nutritional quality of a sample of farmers’ markets in California. Evaluate the use of these farmers’ markets as a healthy food access strategy.

Keyword(s): Nutrition, Food Security

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted this research as a public health and natural resources student of the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, and College of Natural Resources. I am the first author of this paper, and I received mentorship from Lorrene Ritchie, PhD, RD and Lauren Au, PhD, RD from the University of California, Berkeley, Atkins Center for Weight and Health and the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute.
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.

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