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The present study examines the impact of Health Bucks, a farmers’ market incentive programme, on awareness of and access to farmers’ markets, and fruit and vegetable purchase and consumption in low-income New York City neighbourhoods.
Design
The evaluation used two primary data collection methods: (i) an on-site point-of-purchase survey of farmers’ market shoppers; and (ii) a random-digit-dial telephone survey of residents in neighbourhoods where the programme operates. Additionally, we conducted a quasi-experimental analysis examining differential time trends in consumption before and after programme introduction using secondary Community Health Survey (CHS) data.
Setting
New York City farmers’ markets and communities.
Subjects
Farmers’ market shoppers (n 2287) completing point-of-purchase surveys in a representative sample of New York City farmers’ markets in 2010; residents (n 1025) completing random-digit-dial telephone survey interviews in 2010; and respondents (n 35 606) completing CHS interviews in 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Results
Greater Health Bucks exposure was associated with: (i) greater awareness of farmers’ markets; (ii) increased frequency and amount of farmers’ market purchases; and (iii) greater likelihood of a self-reported year-over-year increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. However, our CHS analysis did not detect impacts on consumption.
Conclusions
While our study provides promising evidence that use of farmers’ market incentives is associated with increased awareness and use of farmers’ markets, additional research is needed to better understand impacts on fruit and vegetable consumption.
Intake of white potatoes in and out of school was estimated to provide context for a recent proposal by the US Department of Agriculture to limit provision of white potatoes in US school meals.
Design
Mean daily servings of white potatoes and other vegetables consumed in and out of school for school-aged children were estimated from two days of 24 h dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Total energy intake and percentage energy contribution from discretionary oils and solid fats were also estimated for all white potato dishes consumed.
Setting
The NHANES is nationally representative of the US civilian non-institutionalized population.
Subjects
Children and adolescents aged 6–19 years (n 8466) from three combined NHANES cycles (2003–2004, 2005–2006 and 2007–2008).
Results
White potatoes represented 32 % of all vegetable servings consumed by US children and adolescents. Preparations high in fats and oils, including French fries, were most popular both in and out of school. Mean consumption of white potatoes obtained from school cafeterias was approximately 0·05 servings/d among all children and adolescents, and about 0·15 servings/d among children and adolescents acquiring at least one item from the school cafeteria, implying current weekly intake levels well below the limit of 2 servings/week proposed by the US Department of Agriculture.
Conclusions
Although white potatoes represent a substantial proportion of vegetable consumption among school-aged children, it is unclear that proposed limits would influence white potato intake from school cafeterias. Policy makers should consider targeting preparation methods to improve the healthfulness of white potato dishes.
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