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abstract: Fruit and vegetable consumption among school children falls short of current recommendations. The development of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), which combine the resources of government entities with the resources of private entities, such as businesses or not-for-profit agencies, has been suggested as an effective approach to address a number of public health concerns, including inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides fruits and vegetables as snacks at least twice per week in low-income elementary schools. In addition to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption behaviors at school, children participating in the FFVP have been found to make more requests for fruits and vegetables in grocery stores and at home, suggesting the impact of the program extends beyond school settings. The purpose of this multicase study was to describe key stakeholders' perceptions about creating PPPs between schools and nearby retailers to cross-promote fruits and vegetables in low-income communities, using the FFVP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from three cases groups: grocery store/produce managers (n=10), district FFVP personnel (n=5) and school FFVP personnel (n=12). Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach using constructs from the Health Belief Model, including benefits, barriers, strategies, and motivation. While findings varied by case group, key benefits of creating a PPP included the potential to increase store sales, to enhance public relations with the community, and to extend the impact of the FFVP to settings outside of schools. Barriers included offering expensive produce through the FFVP, time/labor-associated costs, and needing approval from authorities and supervisors. Strategies for developing a PPP included using seasonal produce and having clear instructions for teachers and staff. Stakeholders reported being motivated to create a PPP by the potential to improve health outcomes in children and by wanting to help the community. Both objective and subjective measures were suggested to measure the success of such a partnership. Finally, the educational component of the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) has the potential to serve as a catalyst for organizing a PPP between FFVP-participating schools and nearby grocery stores. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Nutrition 2017

abstract: Despite the literature suggesting that fruits and vegetables (F&V) can have a protective outcome against overweight, obesity and chronic diseases, consumption is still inadequate. In order to address under consumption of F&V among children, schools have become a platform for a variety of food programs. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative, aims to increase exposure and consumption of F&V in low-income school children by providing F&V snacks. Participation in FFVP has been associated with higher preference and consumption of F&V and research also suggests that the program has the potential to decrease rates of overweight and obesity. The benefits of this program have been found to extend outside of the school setting, with higher requests for F&V at home and at the grocery store. This study aims to explore how children’s participation in the FFVP influences home food environments and shopping practices through qualitative analysis focus group data. Four focus groups were held with parents (n=25) from three FFVP participating schools. The data was analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach to find themes within the discussions. The findings were grouped into three categories: General Perceptions of FFVP, Impact of FFVP on the Home Food Environment, and Impact of FFVP on Shopping Practices. For General Perceptions of FFVP, themes were: Children learn about and enjoy F&V, awareness of farm to school programs, and children make healthier choices. Impact of FFVP on the Home Food Environment included the themes: Choosing heathier foods and snacks, parent F&V behaviors, children request F&V at home, and children talk about or bring F&V home. Finally, Impact of FFVP on Shopping Practices included the themes: children’s involvement in shopping, children request to buy F&V, children request non-produce items, and parents decline or limit unhealthy requests. This qualitative study provides valuable insights about how FFVP participation influences child and family behaviors towards F&V at home and in the grocery store. School food programs, such as the FFVP, have a positive influence on F&V related behaviors among children and should be continued and expanded. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Obesity Prevention and Management 2018

This study intends to examine the changes in the structural relations between the actors of fresh fruit and vegetable distribution process within a time scope of thirty years perspective. In summary the following questions were tried to be answered: - Who are the actors active in the fresh fruit and vegetable distribution process? - How these actors transformed within a time scope of thirty years and how they were effected from the changes in overall economic developments and government policies? - What potentials do these actors have for the future and what are the key areas of development to sustain a winning environment for all parties involved: for producers, distributors and consumers?

The main goal of my Master´s thesis is to evaluate dynamic environment of international trade with fresh fruit and vegetables. In the first part of my thesis I analyzed importance of the production of fresh fruit and vegetables for economies of selected countries. Next I had described the trade flows and patterns. In the second part I made a characterization of payment terms and trade negotiations in the context of international trade with fresh fruit and vegetables. Furthermore I made an analysis of import and export rules and regulations of the EU. Based on this analysis I came to general conclusions on the trade policies of countries and communities. In the last part of my thesis I applied findings from the previous parts on the analysis of two cases. The first analyzed case is the situation of imports of Chinese pomelo to the EU, with regards to maximal residue levels of pesticides. Second analyzed case is the situation of South African citruses imported to the EU, with regards to the problematic of citrus black spots.

A concerning public health issue in America is about food deserts urban and rural communities that lack grocery retailers that offer affordable, nutritious, and diverse foods. Empirical evidence has shown significant associations between neighborhood disadvantage/disorder risk factors of high poverty and high percentages of ethnic minority residents with presence/ absence of healthy food retailers in food deserts. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study, framed by the disparities in food safety conceptual model, was to examine if county-level poverty, number of African American residents, number of elderly (i.e., age 65 or older) residents, vehicle ownership, and crime rates were significantly associated with presence/absence of healthy food retail environments in a stratified random sample of 160 Mississippi Delta Region counties. Variables were measured using SPSS 25.0 data set from federal sources. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Findings indicated that the percentage of households below poverty level was significantly associated with absence of healthy food retailers, (Wald X2 = 7.62, p = .006). Logistic regression findings further showed that the county percentage of households with at least one vehicle was significantly associated with the presence of healthy food retailers, (Wald X2= 8.75, p = .003). As a result of this study, residents of the Mississippi Delta Region (MDR) may begin to petition their local, county, and state governments to enhance access to healthy foods, and in turn, such government institutions may develop programs and initiatives that help to make healthy foods affordable.

Kiwifruit are of huge economic importance for New Zealand representing 29 percent of total horticultural exports. Fruit size is the biggest determinant of what consumers are willing to pay, and there is also a positive relationship between consumer preference for flavour and percentage dry matter. The two main cultivars exported from New Zealand are Actinidia chinensis ‘Hort 16A’ (gold kiwifruit) and A. deliciosa ‘Hayward’ (green kiwifruit). Under current commercial practice the only product allowed for use on kiwifruit to increase fruit size in New Zealand is Benefit®. Benefit® has been shown to induce different results when applied to A. chinensis and A. deliciosa, whereas synthetic plant growth regulators such as the cytokinin-like substance N-(2- chloro-4-pyridyl)-N’-phenylurea (CPPU) have been found to promote similar increases in fresh weight of fruit in both cultivars. Final fruit size is determined by both cell division and cell enlargement. It was been shown that fresh weight can be increased in both of the major Actinidia cultivars even though their physiology differs. Hormonal control of fruit size in relation to cell division and cell enlargement phases of fruit growth was studied in both A. chinensis and A. deliciosa. CPPU was applied to both cultivars in a growth response experiment where fruit were collected throughout the growing season. The objective of this experiment was to create growth curves, to compare and contrast the effect on A. chinensis and A. deliciosa, and to provide material for hormone analysis. Application of CPPU was found to significantly increase the fresh weight of both A. chinensis and A. deliciosa fruit (46.98 and 31.34 g increases respectively), and alter the ratio of inner and outer pericarps of A. chinensis fruit. CPPU and Benefit® were applied individually and together to both cultivars. It was found that only A. chinesis fruit were affected by the application of Benefit®; fresh weight was increased by 26.38 g, and percentage dry matter was significantly reduced. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) interaction between CPPU and Benefit® when applied to A. chinensis. 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyloxyacetic acid (3,5,6-TPA) was applied to A. deliciosa on two application dates at three concentrations and was found to decrease fresh weight of fruit, but significantly increase percentage dry matter regardless of application date or concentration. Lastly CPPU and 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were applied to A. deliciosa at two application dates and in all combinations. Application date affected the response to both a low concentration of CPPU and NAA. A synergistic interaction was observed when CPPU was applied early plus NAA late (CPPU early (4.53 g increase) plus NAA late (13.29 g) < CPPU early plus NAA late (33.85 g). Finally endogenous hormone content was studied. Methods were developed and tested for the simultaneous analysis of both indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinins. Freeze dried fruit were purified using Waters Sep-pak® cartridges and Oasis® columns then IAA was quantified by high pressure liquid chromatography. Preliminary results indicate a correlation between application of CPPU and endogenous IAA, high concentrations of IAA correlated well with periods of rapid fruit growth particularly for CPPU treated fruit.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:49:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1010253 bytes, checksum: 01946d09359090468de43eac2c0a9e39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Pineapple is a fruit widely appreciated as fresh fruit. But its chemical composition varies widely between different cultivars. This study evaluated the content of some chemical components and the activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase in pineapple MD-2 and Pearl mature, comparing them with each other. The chemical components of two cultivars analyzed showed that, statistically, the Soluble Solids and Titratable Total Acidity showed higher values than MD-2 pineapple pineapples in Pearl, possibly explaining the latter being more appreciated as fresh fruit by locals while the MD-2 pineapples are more accepted for export. The optimum pH and temperature for the peroxidase activity of MD-2 pineapples were pH 5.0 at 40 ° C and less favorable pH found in this study form. In pineapples Pearl optimal conditions recorded were 50 ° C and pH 5.5 and less favorable 40 º C and pH 6.0. At 30 ° C the specific activity was recorded 3.69 and 3.92 U mg protein-1 for pineapples and Pearl MD-2, respectively. The natural pH of 3.23 MD-2 and 3.59 pH of Pearl were statistically different between the cultivars did not differ tannins and content of L-ascorbic acid was significantly higher in Pearl pineapples. However, the peroxidase activity was significantly higher in Pearl, that the MD-2 and therefore the MD-2 deterioradora less subject to the action of this enzyme. / O abacaxi é uma fruta amplamente apreciada como fruta fresca. Mas sua composição química apresenta grande variação entre cultivares distintas. Este trabalho avaliou o teor de alguns componentes químicos e a atividade da peroxidase e polifenoloxidase nos abacaxis MD-2 e Pérola maduros, comparando-os entre si. Os componentes químicos das duas cultivares analisadas demonstraram que, estatisticamente, os teores de Sólidos Solúveis e Acidez Total Titulável apresentaram valores maiores em abacaxis MD-2 que em abacaxis Pérola; possivelmente, o que explica estes últimos serem mais apreciados como fruta fresca pela população local, enquanto os abacaxis MD-2 são mais aceitos para fins de exportação. As condições ótimas de pH e temperatura para a atividade da peroxidase de abacaxis MD-2 foram pH 5,0 a 40°C e as menos favoráveis encontrados neste estudo forma pH. Em abacaxis Pérola as condições ótimas registradas foram 50ºC e pH 5,5 e as menos favoráveis 40ºC e pH 6,0. À temperatura de 30°C a atividade específica registrada foi 3,69 e 3,92 U·mg Proteína-1 para os abacaxis MD-2 e Pérola, respectivamente. O pH 3,23 natural do MD-2 e o pH 3,59 do Pérola foram estatisticamente diferentes entre os cultivares, taninos não diferiram e o teor de ácido L-ascórbico foi significativamente superior em abacaxis Pérola. Contudo, a atividade da peroxidase foi significativamente maior no Pérola, que no MD-2, sendo, portanto o MD-2 menos sujeito à ação deterioradora desta enzima.