Dataset Information

Fruit and Vegetable Preferences and Practices May Hinder Participation in Community-Supported Agriculture Among Low-Income Rural Families.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Describe fruit and vegetable (FV) preferences and other factors that may influence participation in community-supported agriculture (CSA). DESIGN:In-depth, semi-structured interviews. SETTING:Eight rural/micropolitan communities in 4 US states. PARTICIPANTS:There were 41 caregivers and 20 children (8-12 years of age) from low-income, English-speaking households. PHENOMENA OF INTEREST:Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding FVs; perceived barriers to CSA participation. ANALYSIS:Transcribed verbatim and iteratively coded. RESULTS:Caregivers and children believed FVs were important to health, yet FVs were not featured in dinners or snacks and consumption was challenged by limited preferences and neophobia. Few caregivers and children knew about the seasonality of FV. Most caregivers were unfamiliar with CSA and had concerns about CSA cost, accessibility, produce quality, and selection. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:These qualitative data support improvements in: 1) CSA distribution practices to offer flexible payment and pick-up options, more fruits, and self-selection of FV; 2) public awareness of produce seasonality and the CSA distribution model as necessary precursors to participation, and lower cost for low-income families who highlighted this barrier; and 3) capacity to prepare FV by enhancing skills and providing time-saving kitchen tools. Approaches to aligning CSA practices with the needs and preferences of low-income families warrant further research.

SUBMITTER: Hanson KL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6467078 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Fruit and Vegetable Preferences and Practices May Hinder Participation in Community-Supported Agriculture Among Low-Income Rural Families.

Hanson Karla L KL Garner Jennifer J Connor Leah M LM Jilcott Pitts Stephanie B SB McGuirt Jared J Harris Raiven R Kolodinsky Jane J Wang Weiwei W Sitaker Marilyn M Ammerman Alice A Seguin Rebecca A RA

Journal of nutrition education and behavior 20181006 1

<h4>Objective</h4>Describe fruit and vegetable (FV) preferences and other factors that may influence participation in community-supported agriculture (CSA).<h4>Design</h4>In-depth, semi-structured interviews.<h4>Setting</h4>Eight rural/micropolitan communities in 4 US states.<h4>Participants</h4>There were 41 caregivers and 20 children (8-12 years of age) from low-income, English-speaking households.<h4>Phenomena of interest</h4>Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding FVs; perceived barrie ...[more]

PMID: 30301601

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Project description:BackgroundThe food system has a dynamic influence on disparities in food security and diet-related chronic disease. Community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, in which households receive weekly shares of produce from a local farmer during the growing season, have been examined as a possible food systems-based approach for improving diet and health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost of implementing and participating in a multi-component subsidized community supported agriculture intervention and calculate cost-effectiveness based on diet and food security impacts.MethodsUsing data from the Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) randomized controlled trial in New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington (n = 305; 2016-2018), we estimated programmatic and participant costs and calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for caregivers' daily fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, skin carotenoids, and household food security from program and societal perspectives.ResultsF3HK cost $2,439 per household annually ($1,884 in implementation-related expenses and $555 in participant-incurred costs). ICERs ranged from $1,507 to $2,439 per cup increase in caregiver's FV intake (depending on perspective, setting, and inclusion of juice); from $502 to $739 per one thousand unit increase in skin carotenoid score; and from $2,271 to $3,137 per household shifted out of food insecurity.ConclusionsGiven the known public health, healthcare, and economic consequences of insufficient FV intake and living in a food insecure household, the costs incurred to support these positive shifts in individual- and household-level outcomes via a F3HK-like intervention may be deemed by stakeholders as a reasonable investment. This work helps to advance a critical body of literature on the cost-effectiveness of subsidized CSAs and other economic and food system interventions for the sake of evidence-based allocation of public health resources.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02770196. Registered 5 April 2016. Retrospectively registered. https://www.Clinicaltrialsgov/ct2/show/NCT02770196 .

Project description:BackgroundChildhood obesity persists in the United States and is associated with serious health problems. Higher rates of obesity among children from disadvantaged households may be, in part, attributable to disparities in access to healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. Community supported agriculture can improve access to and consumption of fresh produce, but the upfront payment structure, logistical barriers, and unfamiliarity with produce items may inhibit participation by low-income families. The aim of this project is to assess the impact of subsidized, or "cost-offset," community supported agriculture participation coupled with tailored nutrition education for low-income families with children.Methods/designThe Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids community-based, randomized intervention trial will build on formative and longitudinal research to examine the impact of cost-offset community supported agriculture on diet and other health behaviors as well as the economic impacts on local economies. The intervention will involve reduced-price community supported agriculture shares which can be paid for on a weekly basis, nine skill-based and seasonally-tailored healthy eating classes, and the provision of basic kitchen tools. Low income families with at least one child aged 2-12 years will be recruited to join existing community supported agriculture programs in New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. In each program, families will be randomized 1:1 to intervention or delayed intervention groups. Data will be collected at baseline, and in the fall and spring for 3 years. The primary outcomes are children's intake of fruits and vegetables and foods high in sugar and/or (solid) fat, as well as diet quality; secondary outcomes include physical, behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental variables. Cost-effectiveness and economic impact at the farm and community levels also will be assessed.DiscussionThis integrated project will provide important information and contribute to the evidence base regarding the use of local agricultural interventions to improve children's dietary behaviors and weight maintenance. Findings also will inform the development of a toolkit for farmers and education modules related to local food system innovations for undergraduate and graduate students.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02770196 . Registered 5 April 2016.

Dataset Information

Fruit and Vegetable Preferences and Practices May Hinder Participation in Community-Supported Agriculture Among Low-Income Rural Families.

Publications

Fruit and Vegetable Preferences and Practices May Hinder Participation in Community-Supported Agriculture Among Low-Income Rural Families.

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