State Legislative Efforts to Support Fruit and Vegetable Access, Affordability, and Availability, 2001 to 2009: A Systematic Examination of Policies

Abstract

Individual interventions to increase fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption are being augmented with environmental and policy approaches. This study examined 2001 to 2009 state legislation supportive of F&V. Using two databases, 478 unique bills were identified, 31% of which were enacted. Bills related to local procurement/direct marketing and healthier food retail were most common: 186 introduced, 58 enacted; 159 introduced (65 enacted in the healthier food retail topic area), respectively. Other topics included general access and affordability, food system support, and food policy councils. Legislation increased over time; 6 bills were introduced in 2001 (3 enacted), and 138 were introduced in 2009 (31 enacted). Policy surveillance of a food system approach to supporting F&V allows stakeholders from many fields to understand policy approaches to improving health and potential cobenefits of these policies. This article not subject to U.S. copyright law.