Fresh Produce Delivery to Middle School Youth: Outcomes of a Case Study in Providing Fresh Fruit and Vegetables to Underserved Youth.

Lightner, J. S., Grimes, A., Rhone, J., Martin, K., Moss, J., Wray, B., Eighmy, K., Valleroy, E., & Baughn, M. (2023). Fresh Produce Delivery to Middle School Youth: Outcomes of a Case Study in Providing Fresh Fruit and Vegetables to Underserved Youth.. American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP, 37(4), 529-533.

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a weekly school-based fruit and vegetable delivery via a mobile market on urban middle schoolers' nutrition behaviors.

DESIGN: One-group, pretest-posttest design, quasi-experimental intervention in middle schoolers (6th-8th graders, N = 158) in Kansas City, MO.

INTERVENTION: Weekly delivery of free produce via a mobile market over 12 weeks.

MEASURES: A self-administered survey to assess self-report consumption of fruits, vegetables, soda, and sports drinks.

ANALYSIS: Univariate and bivariate analyses were used. Proportions were compared and chi-square tests were conducted to compare youth at baseline and 12 weeks.

RESULTS: More youth reported consuming fresh fruit (73.8% to 83.3%; χ2 = 7.76, P = .005) and vegetables (66.4% to 71.3%; χ2 = 13.55, P = <.001) from baseline to follow-up. Less youth reported soda (49.0% to 52.8%; χ2= 6.33, P = .012) and sports drinks (41.8% to 38.2%; χ2= 12.32, P < .001) from baseline to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: A mobile produce delivery intervention, like the Healthy Harvest Mobile Market, may be an effective strategy to increase fruit and vegetable consumption for adolescents.

Last updated on 07/25/2023
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