Home > JLPHA > Vol. 1 (2020) > No. 1 (2020)
Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association
Article Title
Research - Factors Associated with Acquiring Food from a Farmers Market and Community or Home Garden Among Primarily African American Residents from Under-Resourced Neighborhoods
Abstract
Farmers markets (FMs) and community/home community gardens (C/HGs) can increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables (F/V). There are limited data on FM and C/HG utilization in African American, under-resourced communities. We explored factors associated with acquiring food from these venues. Methods: An interviewer administered, cross-sectional survey was conducted door to door in two, low-income, predominantly African American neighborhoods in New Orleans, Louisiana. Conclusions: Establishing FMs and C/HGs in low-income communities may be a viable strategy for increasing F/V consumption. Future research within low-income minority communities is needed to inform initiatives to reduce nutrition-related health disparities using FMs and C/HGs. Every third housing unit was selected for inclusion after enumerating and listing all residential addresses within the neighborhoods. We then identified the primary household shopper of selected units for the interview. Acquisition of food from a FM or C/HG in the past three months as well as consumption of F/V was assessed. Results: A total of 901 participants were interviewed. Daily servings of fresh fruit and vegetables were positively associated with acquiring food from a FM and a C/HG in the past three months (p < 0.05). African Americans and those who lived farther away from a FM were less likely to acquire food from a FM (p < 0.05). Those who cooked at home were more likely to use C/HGs. Discussion: FMs can help promote healthy eating habits. Use of FMs depends on location.