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Overview
The intervention involved introducing farm stands in communities with limited access to fresh and quality fruits and vegetables. One farm stand each was placed in two primarily urban, ethnically/racially diverse, low-income neighborhoods in East Austin, Texas both of which are designated as “food deserts” by the United States Department of Agriculture due to a lack of adequate access to grocery stores. The purpose of this longitudinal pilot study was to measure if introducing small farmers’ markets only without any other intervention strategies in underserved communities increased fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among local adult residents who live within a walkable distance (.5 mile radius) of the farm stands. Two farm stands were placed outside two local community sites one day a week for 12 weeks. A variety of locally grown, culturally appropriate produce was sold at the stands. The farm stands were set up to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Data on F&V intake, awareness and usage of farmers’ markets, family behaviors, and importance of eating F&V were collected from individuals (n=61) before and after farm stands were placed in the two communities. Paired sample t-tests, chi-square and McNemar tests were used to evaluate the impact of the intervention on the outcome variables. Significant increases were found for participants’ consumption of fruit, fruit juice, tomatoes, green salad, and other vegetables (P<.05). Participants also reported increases in mediating variables of F&V consumption (e.g. increased awareness & usage of farm stands, increased purchase of F&V). This study illustrates the potential of farmers' markets to increase F&V consumption through increasing F&V access in low-income, underserved communities.
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