March 2010

Review of the Nutritional Implications of Farmers’ Markets and Community Gardens: A Call for Evaluation and Research Efforts

LACEY ARNESON MCCORMACK, MPH, RD; MELISSA NELSON LASKA, PhD, RD; NICOLE I. LARSON, PhD, MPH, RD; MARY STORY, PhD, RD

The purpose of this review was to determine if the growing number of farmers’ markets and community gardens are having an affect on the dietary intake of Americans as only a small portion of the country is getting the recommended number of servings of fruits and veggies per day. Sixteen studies from 1980-2009 were included in this review if they included nutrition related outcomes such as dietary intake, beliefs about buying and eating fruits and vegetables, or perceptions about getting fruits and vegetables from farmers’ markets and community gardens. Youth based garden programs were not included.

The review was organized into three sections: the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), farmers’ market nutrition programs for seniors, and community gardens.

The WIC FMNP review revealed several things. Overall, most of the studies showed an increase in fruit and vegetable intake in participants with the farmers’ market coupons. Some studies revealed that participants planned to continue to shop at farmers’ markets even when they were no longer receiving coupons. One study concluded that education on fruits and vegetables in combination with the coupons had the greatest affect on fruit and veggie intake, but that education alone was associated with improvements in attitudes and coupons alone were associated with increased intake. In general, it appears that studies with longer interventions/those that provided coupons for great amounts of time seemed to show a higher incidence of immediate as well as longer-term increases in fruit and vegetable intake.

Many of the conclusions drawn in the studies regarding farmers’ market nutrition programs for seniors were similar to those of the WIC FMNP studies. A majority of participants reported that receiving the coupons had changed the way they ate and had influenced their intentions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption throughout the entire year. The senior programs also revealed that many participants had never been to farmers’ markets before, but that about half of the visitors had returned or planned to return even without coupons. One study showed that seniors spent over their coupon value at the markets. A free-basket of fruits and veggies was delivered to seniors in some studies as well; these results also showed an increase intake.

Adults living in houses that participated in the community gardens consumed additional servings of fruits or veggies each day when compared with those in nonparticipating households. Additionally, those participating in the gardening reported consuming a wider variety of vegetables. One study actually showed a decrease in milk products, sweets, and sweetened beverages in the gardening group.

Arneson McCormack, L., Nelson Laska, M., Larson, N.I., & Story, M. (2010). Review of the nutritional implications of farmers’ markets and community gardens: A call for evaluation and research efforts [Electronic version]. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110(3), 399-408.
Retrieved March 8, 2010, from: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0002-8223/PIIS0002822309019579.pdf

Additional article: Kropf, M.L., Holben, D.H., Holcomb, J.P., & Anderson, H. (2007). Food security status and produce intake and behaviors of special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program participants [Electronic version]. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(11), 1903-1908.