According to Michael Pollan's article in Mother Jones Magazine, "The typical fruit or vegetable on an American's plate travels some 1,500 miles to get there, and is frequently better traveled and more worldly than its eater" (Pollan 38). The majority of citizens living in or near metropolitan centers rarely come in contact with produce pre-barcode; that is, produce still connected to the earth or not yet processed for mass distribution and consumption. This is especially the case in urban settings where land is at a premium and is valued more for residential and commercial purposes than for food production. In the case of U.S. cities, though we produce sufficiently to feed our population, the majority of produce consumed is grown outside of state lines if not entirely outside of the country. "In 2004, the U.S. exported nearly $20 million worth of lettuce - over 3/4 of it grown in California - to Mexico. The same year, it imported $20 million worth of Mexican lettuce" (Pollan 43). It is far more likely that urbanites seek references from their car mechanics and tailors than from producers of the food they consume. Locally grown and consumed food has several quality-of-life enhancing attributes, most importantly providing fresher, more nutritious produce with a known history, increased self-sufficiency with respect to food, and reduced environmental impact caused by reduced inter and intra-national transportation.

Farmers’ markets are increasingly promoted for their potential to improve access to healthful foods. University campuses are strategic settings for farmers’ markets, because they could improve access to fresh, local produce for large and diverse communities—including college students, who are at risk for poor dietary intake. Universities also offer resources that facilitate farmers’ markets, such as built-in communication channels, common areas, and student volunteers. However, literature describing how to establish campus-based farmers’ markets is limited. We describe the process of developing and operating a student-driven, campus-based farmers’ market at a public university in the Appalachian region of the United States.

A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been strongly associated with weight management, improved overall health, and decreased incidence of chronic disease. Availability of locally grown produce is associated with a higher intake of fruits and vegetables; there were 7,864 farmers markets operating in the U.S. in 2012, a 9.6% increase from 2011. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the demographics, nutrition knowledge, and dietary habits of farmers market patrons at ten diverse markets in Kentucky. A total of 153 surveys were collected; the average age of study participants was 46 ± 21 year. Respondents reported consuming an average of 2.1 ± 1.3 fruit servings and 2.9 ± 1.6 vegetable servings per day. As well, 49% of the market patrons indicated they had an advanced or professional knowledge of nutrition. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being "extremely important", 59% of the patrons ranked having nutrition information listed on recipes as an 8 or above. Market patrons are specifically interested in the salt (87%), fat (74%), and calorie (72%) content of recipes. Results indicate that most farmers market patrons have a good knowledge of nutrition and are interested in evaluating nutrition information.

abstract: At first glance, trends in increased hunger and obesity in the United States (US) would seem to represent the result of different causal mechanisms. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that nearly 50 million Americans had experienced hunger in 2009. A year later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report showing that 68% of the US population was either overweight or obese. Researchers have found that these contrasting trends are actually interrelated. Being so, it is imperative that communities and individuals experiencing problems with food security are provided better access to healthy food options. In response to the need to increase healthy food access, many farmers markets in the US have received funding from the USDA to accept vouchers from federal food security programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, one organization accepting vouchers from several programs is the Phoenix Public Market. However, the mere existence of these programs is not enough to establish food security within a community: characteristics of the population and food environments must also be considered. To examine issues of food security and public health, this thesis utilizes geographical information systems (GIS) technology as a tool to analyze specific environments in order to inform program effectiveness and future funding opportunities. Utilizing methods from community-based participatory research (CBPR) and GIS, a mapping project was conducted in partnership with the Market to answer three questions: (1) what is the demographic makeup of the surrounding community? (2) What retailers around the Market also accept food security vouchers? And (3) where are food security offices (SNAP and WIC) located within the area? Both in terms of demographic characteristics and the surrounding food environment, the project results illustrate that the Market is embedded within a population of need, and an area where it could greatly influence community food security. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Social Justice and Human Rights 2011

p. 1-270 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-24T20:13:55Z No. of bitstreams: 5 eeeeeeeee.pdf: 59409 bytes, checksum: 44d8c0cf590c5751ea2113460005a96a (MD5) ddddddd.pdf: 48011 bytes, checksum: b45d7553fcb3658f82d1886eec4b85b2 (MD5) ccccc.pdf: 67700 bytes, checksum: 94a2b92bbb647fd8d378270f05295861 (MD5) bbbbb.pdf: 37718 bytes, checksum: e1eeae093aadefc1b48603047bd60322 (MD5) aaaaa.pdf: 16727425 bytes, checksum: ab1df43aa55d767a24184a8eb4f1c5eb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva(mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-05-13T13:53:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 5 eeeeeeeee.pdf: 59409 bytes, checksum: 44d8c0cf590c5751ea2113460005a96a (MD5) ddddddd.pdf: 48011 bytes, checksum: b45d7553fcb3658f82d1886eec4b85b2 (MD5) ccccc.pdf: 67700 bytes, checksum: 94a2b92bbb647fd8d378270f05295861 (MD5) bbbbb.pdf: 37718 bytes, checksum: e1eeae093aadefc1b48603047bd60322 (MD5) aaaaa.pdf: 16727425 bytes, checksum: ab1df43aa55d767a24184a8eb4f1c5eb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-13T13:53:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 5 eeeeeeeee.pdf: 59409 bytes, checksum: 44d8c0cf590c5751ea2113460005a96a (MD5) ddddddd.pdf: 48011 bytes, checksum: b45d7553fcb3658f82d1886eec4b85b2 (MD5) ccccc.pdf: 67700 bytes, checksum: 94a2b92bbb647fd8d378270f05295861 (MD5) bbbbb.pdf: 37718 bytes, checksum: e1eeae093aadefc1b48603047bd60322 (MD5) aaaaa.pdf: 16727425 bytes, checksum: ab1df43aa55d767a24184a8eb4f1c5eb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / O conceito de higiene de cada época histórica pode ser relacionado com seu contexto cultural. Os hábitos higiênicos institucionalizam-se como regras. Eles formam-se lentamente no cotidiano dos indivíduos e vão moldando as formas de agir individuais e coletivas. A proposta deste estudo é adentrar no universo de uma feira livre para entender como os hábitos higiênicos relativos aos alimentos se conformam e como a relação entre os diferentes atores desta feira interfere nesse processo. Com este objetivo desenvolvi um estudo etnográfico em uma das oito feiras fixas da cidade de Salvador - Bahia : a Feira do Japão, situada no bairro da Liberdade (um dos bairros mais populosos da cidade).Utilizei entrevistas semi-estruturadas, observação direta, registro fotográfico e análise documental como técnicas de coleta de dados. Os dados coletados foram sistematizados e ordenados de acordo com as seguintes categorias de análise: limpo, sujo, higiene, feira, feirante, consumidor, ordem, fiscalização. Foram entrevistados feirantes, consumidores, garis e fiscais municipais. Ao final do estudo percebi que sujo, limpo, ordem e higiene são categorias construídas a partir de códigos compartilhados pelos distintos atores. A Feira do Japão caracteriza-se como um espaço fluido entre a casa e a rua. Ela não é aceita pelos fiscais municipais devido sua informalidade. O conhecimento científico das normas higienicas e a legislação sanitária não são compreendidas pelos feirantes, pois são estranhas ao seu sistema simbólico. As leis não são efetivas e não têm uma influência importante na construção das práticas higiênicas. Os feirantes e consumidores da feira sentem-se excluídos e marginalizados. As práticas dos fiscais municipais são coercitivas e punitivas e não consideram o senso comum como base para a formação dos hábitos de higiene. / Salvador

abstract: Farmers' markets are a growing trend both in Arizona and the broader U.S., as many recognize them as desirable alternatives to the conventional food system. As icons of sustainability, farmers' markets are touted as providing many environmental, social, and economic benefits, but evidence is mounting that local food systems primarily serve the urban elite, with relatively few low-income or minority customers. However, the economic needs of the market and its vendors often conflict with those of consumers. While consumers require affordable food, farmers need to make a profit. How farmers' markets are designed and governed can significantly influence the extent to which they can meet these needs. However, very little research explores farmers' market design and governance, much less its capacity to influence financial success and participation for underprivileged consumers. The present study examined this research gap by addressing the following research question: How can farmers' markets be institutionally designed to increase the participation of underprivileged consumers while maintaining a financially viable market for local farmers? Through a comparative case study of six markets, this research explored the extent to which farmers' markets in Central Arizona currently serve the needs of farmer-vendors and underprivileged consumers. The findings suggest that while the markets serve as a substantial source of income for some vendors, participation by low-income and minority consumers remains low, and that much of this appears to be due to cultural barriers to access. Management structures, site characteristics, market layout, community programs, and staffing policies are key institutional design features, and the study explores how these can be leveraged to better meet the needs of the diverse participants while improving the markets' financial success. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Sustainability 2013

No description available.

Background: While farmers' markets are a potential strategy to increase access to fruits and vegetables in rural areas, more information is needed regarding use of farmers' markets among rural residents. Thus, this study's purpose was to examine (1) socio-demographic characteristics of participants; (2) barriers and facilitators to farmers' market shopping in southern rural communities; and (3) associations between farmers' market use with fruit and vegetable consumption and body mass index (BMI). Methods. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted with a purposive sample of farmers' market customers and a representative sample of primary household food shoppers in eastern North Carolina (NC) and the Appalachian region of Kentucky (KY). Customers were interviewed using an intercept survey instrument at farmers' markets. Representative samples of primary food shoppers were identified via random digit dial (RDD) cellular phone and landline methods in counties that had at least one farmers' market. All questionnaires assessed socio-demographic characteristics, food shopping patterns, barriers to and facilitators of farmers' market shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption and self-reported height and weight. The main outcome measures were fruit and vegetable consumption and BMI. Descriptive statistics were used to examine socio-demographic characteristics, food shopping patterns, and barriers and facilitators to farmers' market shopping. Linear regression analyses were used to examine associations between farmers' market use with fruit and vegetable consumption and BMI, controlling for age, race, education, and gender. Results: Among farmers' market customers, 44% and 55% (NC and KY customers, respectively) reported shopping at a farmers' market at least weekly, compared to 16% and 18% of NC and KY RDD respondents. Frequently reported barriers to farmers' market shopping were market days and hours, "only come when I need something", extreme weather, and market location. Among the KY farmers' market customers and NC and KY RDD respondents, fruit and vegetable consumption was positively associated with use of farmers' markets. There were no associations between use of farmers' markets and BMI. Conclusions: Fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with farmers' market shopping. Thus, farmers' markets may be a viable method to increase population-level produce consumption.

This study examines the price differences of commonly consumed produce between farmers’ markets and grocery stores in Utah. Our first objective is to compare price differences of a basket of produce between farmers’ markets and grocery stores. We compare these price differences in terms of low-income consumer affordability and if an individual can afford a market basket of produce using a combination of Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) dollars and Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) incentive dollars. Our second objective for this study is to establish the price premiums of individual produce items based on where the produce was sold, time of season, market channel (farmers’ market versus grocery store), as well as production method used (conventional versus organic). The findings from this research can inform policy makers of the affordability of farmers’ market produce and apply incentive programs more effectively. We can inform consumers of the price differences so they can maximize their food budgets. We can use the research to help producers make market strategies that can then maximize their profits.

On average, low-income individuals have poorer diet quality compared to their high-income counterparts. However, improved food access may offer opportunities to improve diet among this population. This study examines how the low-income population navigates between barriers, resources, and opportunities to acquire healthy foods in different settings. Chapter 3 examined how the use of a farmers’ market incentive program among the low-income population impacts F&V consumption. We observed no effect on F&V consumption due to program participation but users of the program have a significantly higher F&V consumption than non-users. Chapter 4 identified transportation difficulties as a barrier to the uptake of farmer’s market incentive program and that larger families may be less likely to take advantage of opportunities provided by farmer’s market incentive programs. Chapter 5 examined the association between factors that influence food choices (taste, price, convenience, concern for nutrition, and concern for weight) and food access and availability in the home. We found that certain behaviors (concern for nutrition) exhibited within the food purchase environment may impact food access and availability in the home. We conclude that more efforts and interventions that target improving consumer’s perceived importance for nutrition and transportation access to food resources are needed; especially among low-income population with low F&V consumption. In addition, information and financial access to food resource opportunities should be expanded, specifically among those with low F&V consumption and expanding the food incentives for larger families should be considered.