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Optimising locational access of deprived populations to farmers' markets at a national scale: one route to improved fruit and vegetable consumption?

ABSTRACT: Background. Evidence suggests that improved locational access to farmers' markets increases fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, particularly for low-income groups. Therefore, we modelled potential alternative distributions of farmers' markets in one country (New Zealand) to explore the potential impact for deprived populations and an indigenous population (M?ori). Methods. Data were collected on current farmers' markets (n = 48), population distributions, area deprivation, and roads. Geographic analyses were performed to optimize market locations for the most deprived populations. Results. We found that, currently, farmers' markets provided fairly poor access for the total population: 7% within 12.5 km (15 min driving time); 5% within 5 km; and 3% within 2 km. Modelling the optimal distribution of the 48 markets substantially improved access for the most deprived groups: 9% (vs 2% currently) within 12.5 km; 5% (vs 1%) within 5 km; and 3% (vs 1%) within 2 km. Access for M?ori also improved: 22% (vs 7%) within 12.5 km; 12% (vs 4%) within 5 km; and 6% (vs 2%) within 2 km. Smaller pro-equity results arose from optimising the locations of the 18 least pro-equity markets or adding 10 new markets. Conclusion. These results highlight the potential for improving farmers' market locations to increase accessibility for groups with low FV consumption. Given that such markets are easily established and relocated, local governments could consider these results to inform decisions, including subsidies for using government land and facilities. Such results can also inform central governments planning around voucher schemes for such markets and exempting them from taxes (e.g., VAT/GST).

SUBMITTER: Pearson AL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3709110 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Optimising locational access of deprived populations to farmers' markets at a national scale: one route to improved fruit and vegetable consumption?

Pearson Amber L AL Wilson Nick N

PeerJ 20130702

Background. Evidence suggests that improved locational access to farmers' markets increases fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, particularly for low-income groups. Therefore, we modelled potential alternative distributions of farmers' markets in one country (New Zealand) to explore the potential impact for deprived populations and an indigenous population (Māori). Methods. Data were collected on current farmers' markets (n = 48), population distributions, area deprivation, and roads. Geographi ...[more]

PMID: 23862107

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Project description:BackgroundThere is evidence of a clustering of healthy dietary patterns and physical activity among young people and also of unhealthy behaviours. The identification of influences on children's health behaviors, particularly clustered health behaviors, at the time at which they develop is imperative for the design of interventions. This study examines associations between parental modelling and support and children's physical activity (PA) and consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV), and combinations of these behaviours.MethodsIn 2002/3 parents of 775 Australian children aged 10-12 years reported how frequently their child ate a variety of fruits and vegetables in the last week. Children wore accelerometers for eight days during waking hours. Parental modelling and parental support (financial and transport) were self-reported. Binary logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses examined the likelihood of achieving >/= 2 hours of PA per day (high PA) and of consuming >/= 5 portions of FV per day (high FV) and combinations of these behaviors (e.g. high PA/low FV), according to parental modelling and support.ResultsItems of parental modelling and support were differentially associated with child behaviours. For example, girls whose parents reported high PA modelling had higher odds of consuming >/= 5 portions of FV/day (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.32-2.87, p < 0.001). Boys whose parents reported high financial support for snacks/fast foods had higher odds of having 'high PA/low FV' (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1-3.7).ConclusionParental modelling of and support for physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption were differentially associated with these behaviours in children across behavioural domains and with combinations of these behaviours. Promoting parents' own healthy eating and physical activity behaviours as well encouraging parental modelling and support of these behaviours in their children may be important strategies to test in future research.

Dataset Information

Optimising locational access of deprived populations to farmers' markets at a national scale: one route to improved fruit and vegetable consumption?

Publications

Optimising locational access of deprived populations to farmers' markets at a national scale: one route to improved fruit and vegetable consumption?

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