Evaluating the impact of Farm to School programs on vegetable preference and consumption patterns among school‐aged children

Abstract

Research evaluating the impact of Farm to School (FTS) programs on vegetable (V) consumption is limited. The goals of this study are to establish methodologies and determine the feasibility of assessing dietary outcomes resulting from FTS. A subset of 4th grade children in Winters Joint Unified School District (WJUSD) and Oakland Unified School District (OSUD) participated in assessments using a pre‐post‐test design. Student V preferences were measured using a food preference questionnaire. Acceptance and consumption of V from school lunch was measured by plate waste. Dietary behaviors outside of school were measured with a parent questionnaire. At pre‐test, 3.7% of WJUSD students chose and ate V at lunch. Of participating OUSD students, 45.8% chose V at lunch, but only 29.7% ate any of the V taken. V preference, measured on a scale of 0–5 (5 indicating a high level of preference) was 3.3 among WJUSD students and 3.0 among OUSD students. Of surveyed parents, 50% in WJUSD and 34% in OUSD reported that their child asks them to buy selected California specialty crop vegetables. When asked if their child receives a healthy school lunch 61.5% of WJUSD parents and 42.1% of OUSD parents replied “yes”. Districts were encouraged to use baseline results in developing strategies for FTS implementation. Post‐test data will be collected approximately one year post‐implementation. (Supported by CDFA, project #SCB10030)