Fruit Purchases Research Articles

The effect of nudges aligned with the renewed Flemish Food Triangle on the purchase of fresh fruits: An on-campus restaurant experiment

ObjectiveThis study examined the effect of nudges, inspired by the recently renewed Flemish Food Triangle, on fruit sales in a Belgian on-campus university restaurant. MethodsIn this mixed-method real-life experiment, nudges were added weekly over a period of four consecutive weeks: placement of (1) Food Triangle posters in the restaurant, (2) ‘green heart’ icons above the fruit stands, and (3) substitution and (4) social norm messages at the fruit stands. During baseline (no intervention) and all intervention weeks, dessert sales were registered. Short interviews were used to ask customers about their perceptions regarding the intervention. Follow-up measurements (7 and 30 weeks later) evaluated the longer-term effectiveness, while all nudges remained in place. Dessert sales were analyzed separately for both sexes, students and staff categories (based on academic degree). ResultsCompared to baseline, the combination of the Food Triangle and the green heart intervention materials in week 2 resulted in significant increases in fruit consumption across almost all subgroups. The other intervention materials used in the current study had rather limited effects in the short term. After 7 weeks of follow-up, significant fruit sale increases were established for all subgroups compared to baseline. At 30 weeks follow-up, the effect for staff B (Bachelor's degree) disappeared. The majority of the respondents (66.4%) had noticed at least one of the nudges, while only 3.4% indicated to have adjusted their dessert choice as a result of the nudges. ConclusionsThe combination of nudges was effective in the long term and increased fruit purchase in nearly all subgroups. Short interviews show that a more active approach may be needed to increase effect sizes.

Washington State's Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program: Improving Affordability of Healthy Foods for Low-Income Patients.

Purpose and ObjectivesWe conducted a mixed-methods process and outcome evaluation for a statewide fruit and vegetable prescription program. The process evaluation assessed program implementation, identified opportunities for quality improvement, and provided recommendations for future programmatic activities. The outcome evaluation measured how the program affected purchases of fruits and vegetables among low-income patients and patient satisfaction with the program.Intervention ApproachThe Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH) partnered with public and private health care systems, public health agencies, a community-based organization, and a supermarket chain to launch a fruit and vegetable prescription program in 2016. The prescription was a $10 voucher redeemable for fruits and vegetables at any one of 169 participating supermarkets. Prescriptions were distributed to eligible low-income patients in clinics and community settings.Evaluation MethodsWA DOH reviewed quarterly reports, meeting minutes and notes, telephone call logs, and email logs to solicit feedback on program implementation processes. We calculated overall prescription redemption rates on the basis of the number of prescriptions distributed by implementing partners and the number of prescriptions redeemed at participating supermarkets. We assessed patient satisfaction through a web-based survey. The study period was July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2018.ResultsBest practices for implementation included using the prescription to improve patient engagement and retention and connect patients to additional services, and working in the community to enhance program support and uptake. Overall, $154,810 in fruit and vegetable prescriptions were redeemed during the study period (54.4% redemption rate). Most survey respondents (88.2%) reported eating more fruits and vegetables than previously as a result of the prescription.Implications for Public HealthFruit and vegetable prescriptions are an effective way to increase affordability of healthy foods for low-income patients. These programs are scalable and translatable across various types of patient–provider encounters.

Purchase of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Through Box Schemes in Hungary – Opportunities and Hindering Factors on the Way to Sustainability

Abstract This study examines opportunities and hindering factors of box schemes as they have been operating for many years in Hungary, but there are several facts which make it hard for box schemes to become parts of the daily routine in the lives of Hungarian consumers. The first fact is price sensitiveness and willingness to pay price premium for environmentally friendly products, including fresh fruits and vegetables. The second fact is the lack of many products in supplies of box schemes, because fruits and vegetables are seasonal products, but this reason is not always acceptable for customers. The third fact is time wasting, which is a really hindering factor. Finally, interpretation of sustainability is the most important in the eyes of consumers. Our goal is to show how the relation between factors leads to opportunity of growth.

Baseline Comparison of Fruit and Vegetable Purchases at Indiana Elementary Schools for Power up with Produce Team Nutrition Intervention Study (P04-140-19)

ObjectivesTo determine if student school meal item purchases at two groups of schools are equivalent at the beginning of a study designed to promote healthy fruit and vegetable attitudes and eating behaviors. MethodsPairs of rural Indiana elementary schools were recruited from each of 5 strata, created based on geographic locale and school size, and were assigned to control (CON) or intervention (INT) group in a cluster RCT in Fall 2018. Food service managers provided food production records that itemized quantities of student fruit and vegetable purchases for 19 days. Fruit, total vegetables, and vegetable subgroups purchases were compared after log transformation using hierarchical linear modeling (level 1 = meal day, level 2 = schools, α = 0.05) with SAS ver9.4. ResultsFor breakfast, negligible amounts of vegetables were served and mean purchases of fruits were not different with 0.77 ± 0.30 cup/student/meal at INT schools and 0.62 ± 0.20 cup/student/meal at CON schools (P = 0.400). At lunch, fruit consumption was also not different with mean fruit at 0.49 ± 0.10 cup/student/meal at INT schools and 0.48 ± 0.16 cup/student/meal at INT schools. (P = 0.722). Total vegetables were different with 0.67 ± 0.25 and 0.37 ± 0.19 cup/student/meal, for INT and CON, respectively (P = 0.001). Vegetable subgroups were not different for dark green (0.12 ± 0.22, 0.07 ± 0.08 cup/student/meal, for INT and CON respectively, P = 0.540), red/orange (INT = 0.12 ± 0.23 and CON = 0.08 ± 0.09 cup/student/meal, P = 0.688) legumes (INT = 0.07 ± 0.19 and CON = 0.02 ± 0.06 cup/student/meal, P = 0.056), and “others” (INT = 0.09 ± 0.19 and CON = 0.08 ± 0.11 cup/student/meal, P = 0.336), but were different for the starchy subgroup (INT = 0.26 ± 0.29 and CON = 0.11 ± 0.18 cups/student/meal, P = 0.025). ConclusionsOverall, at baseline, students did not purchase different amounts of fruits at breakfast or lunch, or vegetables at lunch, except in the case of the starchy subgroup at lunch, which were higher at the intervention schools. This increase in the starchy subgroup then significantly contributed to an increased total vegetables/student/lunch meal purchased at intervention schools. Funding SourcesSupported by USDA TEAM Nutrition.

Availability of neighbourhood supermarkets and convenience stores, broader built environment context, and the purchase of fruits and vegetables in US households.

To determine whether neighbourhood supermarket and convenience store availability and broader built environment context are associated with food purchasing behaviour in a national population. We used observational data to perform a cross-sectional study of food purchases for US households in 2010. We used three-level mixed-effect regression models to determine whether the associations between the number of neighbourhood supermarkets and convenience stores and the self-reported annual household expenditures for fruits and vegetables were affected by regional destination accessibility, neighbourhood destination diversity, availability of neighbourhood destinations and neighbourhood street connectivity. Metropolitan statistical areas (n 378) in the USA. Households (n 22 448). When we controlled for broader built environment context, there was no significant association between availability of neighbourhood supermarkets and expenditures on fruits and vegetables; instead, we observed an inverse association between the number of convenience stores and expenditures for fruits (P = 0·001). The broader built environment context was associated with food purchase, although the magnitude was small: (i) higher regional destination accessibility was associated with higher expenditures for fruits (P < 0·001); (ii) higher neighbourhood destination diversity was associated with lower expenditures for vegetables (P = 0·002); and (iii) higher neighbourhood street connectivity was associated with higher expenditures for fruits (P < 0·001). The broader built environment factors contributed to understanding how people use neighbourhood food stores. However, there was only a small relationship between the broader environment context and fruit and vegetable expenditures. Policy interventions that focus exclusively on increasing the availability of neighbourhood supermarkets likely will not promote fruit and vegetable consumption.

The Study on Fruit Purchase Satisfaction in College Students

The Study on Fruit Purchase Satisfaction in College Students

WHO BUYS ORGANIC FRUITS, VEGETABLES &amp; MILK ? A DEMOGRAPHIC PORTRAYAL OF CONSUMERS

The global market for organic food products has been growing significantly since the last decade. Indian organic food market has also witnessed the growth and is anticipated to grow at a significant 25-30 percent. The primary purpose of this study is to find who are the buyers of organic food, that is, their demographic characteristics, like, Age, Educational level, Gender, Occupation, and Income etc., and to study the association between demographic characteristics and purchase of organic fruits, vegetables and milk. A total of 556 completed questionnaires were collected with the help of Area sampling technique from Delhi - National Capital Region. The findings revealed that demographic variables like a high level of education, high level of income, females, home-makers, professionals and families with the presence of children buy organic fruits, vegetables and milk more frequently. These findings will be helpful to those who are interested in understanding consumer’s behaviour regarding organic food consumption and in the continued development of the organic food industry in India, especially NCR.

Healthy food marketing and purchases of fruits and vegetables in large grocery stores.

Healthy food marketing in the retail environment can be an important driver of fruit and vegetable purchases. In Los Angeles County, the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) program utilized this strategy to promote healthy eating among low-income families that shop at large retail chain stores. The present study assessed whether self-reported exposure to large retail NEOP interventions, including seeing at least one store visual, watching an in-store cooking demonstration, and/or seeing at least one program advertisement, were associated with increased fruit and vegetable purchases. During fall 2014, the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health partnered with Samuels Center to conduct store patron intercept surveys at six large food retail stores participating in NEOP across Los Angeles County. Of 1050 participants who completed the survey, almost a quarter (25.0%) reported seeing at least one visual throughout the store and 9.2% watched a cooking demonstration. Seeing at least one visual and watching a cooking demonstration were not significantly associated with percent dollars spent on fruits and vegetables each week. Among participants who reported being exposed to at least one store visual, those enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reported spending 6% more on fruits and vegetables than those who were not enrolled (p = 0.046). Although the NEOP store interventions did not individually increase store purchases, their educational value may still influence patron food selection, especially if coupled to the monetary resources of SNAP for those who are enrolled.

Factors Associated with Fruit and Vegetable Purchases of SNAP Recipients Residing in Multi-Person Households within a Food Desert

ABSTRACT Fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is inversely associated with obesity, which is disproportionately high in urban food deserts and low-income populations, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. This cross sectional study sought to examine factors associated with food desert SNAP recipients’ F&V purchases and weight status in multi-person households. Socio-demographic characteristics, access to healthy foods and stores, affordability, purchasing practices, use of food assistance and weight status were analyzed. A convenience sample of seventy-one SNAP recipients were recruited from a Detroit, MI food desert. Participants were 45–54 years of age (33.8%), average BMI = 30.33. Multiple linear regression determined if socio-demographic and household factors were associated with fruit and vegetable purchases and BMI. Results showed that those who were more likely to limit F&V purchases were not getting enough food to eat (p = 0.009), and males who indicated limited finances (p = 0.043). BMI was negatively associated with participants not getting enough food to eat within the household (p = .04). SNAP recipients, living in food deserts can benefit from public health interventions, policies and education that can influence F&V purchases and likely consumption.

A Healthy Retail Intervention in Native American Convenience Stores: The THRIVE Community-Based Participatory Research Study.

Objectives. To assess a healthy retail intervention in Tribal convenience stores in Oklahoma.Methods. We adapted healthy retail strategies to the context of 8 Tribally owned stores. We assessed individual- and store-level outcomes in a cluster-controlled intervention trial (April 2016-June 2017). We measured fruit and vegetable intake, store environment perceptions, and purchases before and after the intervention among a cohort of 1637 Native American shoppers. We used mixed-effects linear regression to estimate pre- to postintervention changes in and between groups.Results. We followed 74% of participants (n = 1204) 9 to 12 months. Intervention and control participants perceived healthier stores after intervention. Higher shopping frequency was related to purchases of fruits, vegetables, and healthy items.Conclusions. Intervention exposure was associated with healthy purchasing but not fruit and vegetable intake. Research is needed to further assess impacts of environmental interventions on intake.Public Health Implications. As the first healthy retail intervention in Tribally owned stores, our results contribute evidence for environmental and policy interventions to address obesity in Tribal Nations. Multicomponent interventions, led by Tribal leaders from diverse sectors, are needed to create healthy environments and sustainable improvements in Native American health.

Factors Influencing The Purchase Intention in Online Organic Fruit and Vegetable Stores

The increasing number of organic agricultural production and public awareness toward healthy living provide the opportunities in trading for the products itself. Meanwhile, the development of information technology produces innovation such as electronic commerce (e-commerce), and in agribusiness, it is known as e-agribusiness. E-agribusiness allows organic groceries trade activities to be conducted online through a website. However, that is a new and rare activity in Indonesia, therefore the management of company needs to develop the strategy to enhance the customers and survive in the industry. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors influencing organic fruit and vegetable purchase intention through a website based on technology perspective and consumer behavior. WebQual and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) were used in this study. This study was conducted on website of Sayur Box, one of e-agribusiness in Indonesia. Face-to-face survey technique was used to collect the data from 113 respondents. PLS-SEM was used for data analysis. The result shows that online purchase intention is affected by attitude and perceived behavioral control. All of WebQual’s instruments that used in this study affect user satisfaction toward the website except for the usefulness variable. User satisfaction toward the website has an indirect effect on online purchase intention through attitude variable. Keywords: e-agribusiness, online purchase intention, structural equation modeling, theory of planned behavior, website quality

Calibration modelling for non-destructive estimation of external and internal quality parameters of ‘Marsh’ grapefruit using Vis/NIR spectroscopy

Consumer preference for fruit without disorder influences purchase of fruit at both local and international markets. Recent trends in horticulture show that consumer preference is influenced by assurance that external appearance is linked with rewarding internal sensory quality. Therefore, the need for non-destructive evaluation of external and internal quality parameters is important. This study was conducted to develop and test calibration models for integrated prediction of external and internal quality of ‘Marsh’ grapefruit. Visible to near infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy (Vis/NIRS) was used to acquire spectral information from 522 intact fruit. Reference quality parameters such as colour indices (luminosity (L*), greenness (a*) and yellowness (b*)), rind dry matter (DM), rind total phenolics concentration, BrimA, carbohydrates, sweetness index (SI) and total sweetness index (TSI) were obtained using conventional methods. Principal component analysis was applied to analyse spectral data to identify outliers. Savitzky-Golay second derivative with second order polynomial was employed as pre-processing method to correct light scattering properties of the spectra. The spectra were subjected to a test set validation by categorising the spectra into calibration (60%) and validation (40%) sets. Partial least square regression was used as chemometric tool to develop models for predicting each parameter. The model validation results showed that external and internal quality parameters of grapefruit could be predicted with satisfactory accuracy with R2 value of 0.99 for rind quality parameters (L*, a*, b*, DM) and 0.77, 0.99, 0.99 for BrimA, SI and TSI, respectively. The residual predictive deviation (RPD) results for L*, a*, b*, DM, BrimA, SI and TSI were 64.1, 61.4, 123.4, 12.9, 1.4, 9.0 and 13.9, respectively. Vis/NIR calibration and validation results demonstrated that quality parameters of ‘Marsh’ grapefruit could be predicted using Vis/NIRS.

Effect of food insecurity on food purchases at home

Previous research has established a relationship between income and food security. In this article, we examine the effect of food security on food purchases, specifically on five food‐at‐home groups. Using a set of Tobit models, and after controlling for a set of confounding factors, we show that food security perception leads to the purchase of fruit and vegetables, meats and eggs, and dairy products while decreasing the purchase of fat and carbohydrates. However, we cannot be certain of the actual nutritional effect.

Strategies to improve the implementation of policies, practices or programmes in sporting organisations targeting poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity, risky alcohol use or tobacco use: a systematic review

ObjectivesThe primary aim for this review is to determine the effectiveness of strategies to improve the implementation of policies, practices or programmes in sporting organisations. The secondary aims are to...

Cluster analysis for fruit consumption patterns: an international study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the fruit consumer segmentations and compare the consumption patterns across North America, Europe and East Asia. This study aims to identify the key drivers for fruit consumption across segments and regions, in terms of socioeconomics and shopping behavior. Design/methodology/approach An international survey to collect information on fruit consumption, demographics and lifestyle factors was developed. Respondents from eight countries across North America, Europe and East Asia were recruited from online panels. A total usable sample of 7,793 respondents was collected. Findings Respondents can be clustered in three segments: low-frequency consumer, common fruit consumer and high-frequency consumer. These consumer segments are heterogeneous in socioeconomics and shopping behavior across regions. Overall, the high-frequency consumer cluster had more individuals who were older, married, not single/never married, self-reported healthy and physically active. The low-frequency consumer group had a larger number of individuals who were younger, living alone, single/never married, self-reported unhealthy and not active. Moreover, the high-frequency fruit consumers tended to focus on many fruit attributes, such as freshness, nutritional value, origin and in the season, but not focus on the price. Originality/value This study uses a unique data set covering eight countries and provides a comprehensive comparison of international fruit consumption patterns and identifying the important factors driving fruit purchase decisions.

Improve access to the EU market by identifying French consumer preference for fresh fruit from China

Most previous studies have investigated country-of-origin effect for agricultural products from the economically developed country, but few have focused on the impact of country-of-origin on agricultural products from economically developing countries. Using a national online survey in France, we determine French consumers' perceptions and preferences for fresh fruit from China. Results of ordered logit models show that fresh fruit from China was perceived as low quality and unsafe. Respondents who care about country-of-origin were less likely to purchase fresh fruit from China, while those who care about brand were more likely to buy Chinese fresh fruit. Risk perception and quality perception both had a significant impact on the purchase of Chinese fresh fruit. Results of latent class models obtained with key consumer demographics show that heterogeneous preferences exist among different consumer groups. The results provide critical information to both China and other economically developing countries in their efforts to improve market penetration in economically developed countries.

Changes in Consumer Purchases in Stores Participating in an Obesity Prevention Initiative

From 2011 to 2014, small stores in three communities participated in a community-wide obesity prevention initiative. The study aimed to determine how participation in the initiative influenced store environments and consumer purchases. Pre- and post-intervention without control. Structured observations of the store environments and intercept surveys of adult shoppers at all stores, and of children at two stores, conducted at baseline and follow-up. Manager/owner interviews regarding perceived impacts of the intervention conducted at follow-up. Shoppers at nine small stores in three diverse, low-income communities in Northern California. The store interventions were determined locally with combinations of strategies such as product displays, healthier options, marketing and promotion, store layout, and facility improvements that were implemented to varying degrees at each site. Changes in store environments and purchases of select foods and beverages. Stores experienced consistent, but not always significant, declines in purchases of sweets and chips and increases in purchases of fruits and vegetables at select stores. Decreases in purchases of targeted sugar-sweetened beverages were offset by increases in purchases of other sugar-sweetened beverages. Changes in store environments and promotional activities varied widely from store to store and corresponded to variations in changes in purchasing. The owners/managers perceived benefits to their bottom line and community/customer relations, but challenges were identified that may account for the varied degree of implementation. Substantive improvements in fruit and vegetable availability and promotion were needed to achieve a measurable impact on purchases but reducing purchases of unhealthy foods, like sweets and chips, required a less consistent intensive effort. These findings suggest it may be challenging to achieve the consistent and targeted implementation of changes and ongoing promotional efforts at a large enough proportion of stores where residents shop that would be required to get measurable impacts at the community level. This article is part of a supplement entitled Building Thriving Communities Through Comprehensive Community Health Initiatives, which is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Community Health.

Examining neighborhood and interpersonal norms and social support on fruit and vegetable intake in low-income communities

BackgroundWe examined whether neighborhood-, friend-, and family- norms and social support for consumption and purchase of fruits and vegetables (F&V) were associated with F&V intake among low-income residents in subsidized housing communities. We examined baseline data from a study ancillary to the Live Well/Viva Bien intervention. Participants included 290 residents in four low-income subsidized housing sites who were ≥ 18 years of age, English and/or Spanish speaking, and without medical conditions that prevented consumption of F&V.MethodsLinear regression models examined associations of norms and social support with F&V intake after adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsIn the analysis, neighborhood social support for F&V was associated with a 0.31 cup increase in F&V intake (95% CI = 0.05, 0.57). The family norm for eating F&V and family social support for eating F&V were associated with a 0.32 cup (95% CI = 0.13, 0.52) and 0.42 cup (95% CI = 0.19, 0.64) increase in F&V intake, respectively.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, no other studies have examined neighborhood, family, and peer norms and social support simultaneously and in relation to F&V intake. These findings may inform neighborhood interventions and community-level policies to reduce neighborhood disparities in F&V consumption.

Can healthy checkout end-caps improve targeted fruit and vegetable purchases? Evidence from grocery and SNAP participant purchases

Grocery shoppers face time and attention constraints when shopping that may contribute to decreased purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables. We created and tested a healthy checkout strategy that made fruits and vegetables both convenient and salient. Specifically, cashiers were trained to suggestive sell pre-packaged, convenient, low-cost, pairs of fruits or vegetables located at the checkout aisle end-cap. Overall and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participant purchases of targeted fruits and vegetables significantly increased within treatment stores and between the treatment stores relative to the control store. A significant decreasing trend in overall produce sales in the control store was found, but not for treatment stores. Further pilot testing of healthy checkout strategies is needed to provide additional evidence of efficacy and to understand better how economically sustainable these strategies are for retailers.

E-Nose and GC-MS Reveal a Difference in the Volatile Profiles of White- and Red-Fleshed Peach Fruit.

First purchases of fruit are mainly dependent on aspects of appearance such as color. However, repeat buys of fruit are determined by internal quality traits such as flavor-related volatiles. Differences in volatile profiles in white- and red-fleshed peach fruit are not well understood. In the present study, peach cultivars with white- and red-fleshed fruit were subjected to sensory analysis using electronic nose (e-nose) to evaluate overview volatile profiles. Approximately 97.3% of the total variation in peach color-volatiles was explained by the first principle component 1 (PC1) and PC2. After analyzing sensory differences between peach fruit samples, 50 volatile compounds were characterized based on GC-MS. Multivariate analysis such as partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was applied to identify volatile compounds that contribute to difference in white- and red-fleshed peach fruit cultivars. A total of 18 volatiles that could separate peach fruit cultivars with different colors in flesh during ripening were identified based on variable importance in projection (VIP) score. Fruity note latone γ-hexalactone had higher contents in red-fleshed cultivars, while grassy note C6 compounds such as hexanal, 2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenal, 1-hexanol, and (Z)-2-hexen-1-ol showed great accumulation in white-fleshed peach fruit.