A Pilot Study to Examine the Impact of the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

Abstract

This pilot study examined WIC participants' use of farmers' markets. As well as evaluating the impact of the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) on the consumption of fruits and vegetables.Participants were American born, Black, pregnant women in Washington, DC (DC) and Charlotte, NC who enrolled in WIC. The sample included women who completed the pre and post survey at their WIC offices in DC (n=44) and Charlotte (n=39) during the spring/summer 2007 and fall/winter 2007. In addition to receiving the standard WIC vouchers, women in DC also received $30 in FMNP vouchers while women in Charlotte did not.Paired t test was used to examine differences in intake from spring to fall. A two sample independent t test was used to compare the difference in intake and sociodemographic characteristics between women in Charlotte and DC.Women in DC were more likely to ever use farmers' markets; 56.8% in DC vs. 33.3% in Charlotte (p= 0.008). Two thirds (66%) of women in DC used their FMNP vouchers; these women were older than those who did not use their vouchers. Fruit and vegetable intake decreased from pre to post test among both groups, there was no difference in this decrease between groups.This study demonstrated that women in a city with the FMNP were more likely to use farmers' markets. It also found that nutrition education to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption in the fall/winter is warranted.