Question 2
Due to varying climates throughout the United States, farmers’ markets and community gardening programs can only be an intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake for a fraction of the year in most places. Do you think these minimal time frames are enough to change eating habits long-term? What other things could be done or programs could be set in place in improve fruit and vegetable intake year round?
posted by Stephanie Hinkle @ 7:48 PM
37 comments
37 Comments:
I believe that even though the intervention of increasing fruit/vegetable intake would be in a minimal time frame due to varying climates, there would still be some participants that would continue to consume fruit and vegetables more frequently than they did before the intervention. It is all about retraining your taste buds and repetition of eating a certain type of food (e.g. fruits and vegetables) that shapes the food choices people make. The intervention would provide participants with fruits and vegetables that they may not have tried before due to old eating habits and preferences. I think an informative brochure on what types of fruits and vegetables to choose from in the grocery store during the “out of season” period would be helpful. Even something such as a demonstration/guide to canning vegetables would also be helpful. Also explaining different things you can do so you can have those fresh market fruits and vegetables year round such as freezing fruits and vegetables (e.g. sweet corn, blueberries) as well as dehydrating fruits like apples and pears, which is a convenient way to incorporate healthy snacks throughout the day.
Given my recent exposure working with low-income populations, this question is debatable. At Macon County WIC, the yearly Farmers' Market is set up right outside WIC services, in the Public Health Department's parking lot, making it extremely convenient for WIC participants to purchase fruits and veggies as soon as their coupons are printed. Many participants do not own cars and so, have to seek alternative forms of transportation to attend their appointments and receive their coupons. Now that WIC food packages include fruit and veggie vouchers year round, consumption should remain somewhat steady throughout the year. As for individuals both eligible and non-eligible for WIC services, fruit and veggie consumption ultimately depends on taste and personal food preferences. Therefore, providing individualized nutritional care to patients/clients is critical so that additional barriers can be addressed and educational advice and instruction on how to shop for, prepare and cook these items year round can be provided.
These minimal time frames can be enough to change eating habits long term because utilizing a gardening program or farmers market for even a brief period of time helps participants develop a desire for fresh fruits/veggies because of health and taste benefits. The people who are exposed to the farmers markets and gardening programs likely look for fruits/veggies that are in season at various grocery stores. In addition to offering gardening programs and farmers' markets, community members could be instructed/informed about how to find and use fresh fruits and veggies throughout all season through handouts or lessons.
I do not think that people living in areas with minimal time frames for farmers’ markets and community gardening can make complete changes in their eating habits for the long-term. I think those types of programs can definitely impact the individuals so that they are slightly more conscious of their consumption of fruits and vegetables, but when they are harder to obtain, more expensive, and less fresh people may not eat them as readily and as frequently. I think in order to improve fruit and vegetable intake year round those programs should provide coupons or vouchers for local grocery stores so the participants can buy produce at a reduced price. Also, if those programs met in a different capacity and presented various ideas to the participants giving them several ways to use and prepare fruits and vegetables, the individuals may be more likely to continue eating more produce items.
I do believe these minimal time frames are enough time to change eating habits long-term for those who are truly committed to making healthful food choices. Although, I think there needs to be additional education provided during that time. For example, education on canning and freezing fruits and vegetables could show people how to use the produce all year round.
I agree with Jennifer’s comment that those people who are exposed to farmers’ markets and gardening programs are likely to look for produce that is in season at grocery stores. Also, educating people on different fruits and vegetables that are in season at different points throughout each year would be beneficial to them as well.
I think it would be great if there was a community program that taught us how to do canning and other preserving methods so that when the fresh produce is not available due to the climate that there would be a reserve. I think with something like this however if we can get individuals to start increasing their fruit and vegetable income when they are available at farmers markets it may increase the awareness and therefore increase consumption year round.
Melanie,
I think getting information out to the population about savy shoppig for fruits and vegetables during off seasons is a great way to encourage and help increase fruit and vegetable consumption.
Yes, I believe that these minimal time frames are enough to change eating habits long-term. If someone has enough motivation, and becomes accustomed to preparing and consuming more fruits and vegetables during a certain period of time, it is possible that they will strive to keep up with those habits all year-round. An information booth at farmers' markets, and information at community gardens, should be available to educate consumers on choices and recipes that are accessible all year-round. This will provide those that have increased their fruit and vegetable consumption with the tools to continue in the off-season.
I do think that eating habits can be changed by exposure to a well-run farmer's market even if the season is short. It seems to me that the key to maintaining awareness of the value of what the farmer's market provides is year-round education. Certainly providing appropriate hand-outs and lessons throughout the active growing season is important but also perhaps establishing a series of winter-time farmer's market "meetings" or "up-date" sessions would be useful in terms of keeping people involved, interested and up-to-date. Ideally these sessions could be held in a meeting place that is on, or close to, the site of the actual summer market. Organizations like WIC that provide education and coupons, etc, would need to maintain their educational opportunities year-round.
Alison- I definitely agree with you and think that in order to maintain awareness of the value of what the farmer's market provides is year-round education. This coincides with Shelby's idea about offering a variety of classes throughout the year (including one on canning and preservation). Surely, this information could be discussed at WIC appointments and offered in conjunction with a nutrition education class; however, for clients who aren't eligible for such programs, it would be neat to offer sessions and/or classes within the community.
The research reported that individuals with coupons for the farmers' market said they would buy fruits and vegetables without the coupons. This may lead to the conclusion one would carry out their consumption from other sources while the farmers' market was not available. From the time frame the farmers' market or gardening programs are available, individuals will have had enough time to develop a like or dislike for the produce that would determine their long term habits. While people may consume larger amounts of fruits and vegetables during the gardening programs and farmers' market time frames, I do not think they will cease intake without them.
Melanie P
I completely agree with Allison. While I see that it may be hard for some to continue this year-round, if there was education being provided throughout the year (even during the off season)it would be a reminder that there are still ways and certain fruits and vegetables that are not to pricey during the off season. Having coupons and educational booths or free samples may also encourage people to buy them. Sometimes people automatically assume that the produce won't be very good because it is the off season, but they just need to know what fruit and veggies to look for that are just as good if not better in the winter time.
I believe that the minimal time frame for farmer's markets and community gardens in Northern climates is sufficient time to make improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption for many individuals. The exposure to fruits and vegetables (I believe) will undoubtedly lead to increased preference for fruits and vegetables. Perhaps these fruits and vegetables are more expensive during the winter, but maybe these individuals would be more willing to spend the money for the fruits and vegetables they enjoy. If not, they will look forward to the months when they can obtain these items at the farmers market. This may not be the case for all participants, but I believe it is a step in the right direction to expose lower-income individuals to these programs.
I agree with Kara, providing vouchers for fresh fruit and vegetables at the grocery store during winter months is a great way to perpetuate the consumption of fruit and vegetables in this demographic!
I agree with Kara, providing vouchers for fresh fruit and vegetables at the grocery store during winter months is a great way to perpetuate the consumption of fruit and vegetables in this demographic!
Great ideas all around - I agree that any additional exposure (even if minimal) to educate regarding fruit and vegetable consumption is beneficial. I don't think this was mentioned... but during the "off-seasons" we could recommend canned fruits or frozen vegetables as alternative choices. Of course WIC is an easy program to make recommendations of this nature but I think everyone made great suggestions for programs at grocery stores, educational sessions, etc.
Just to play Devil's Advocate here, I am going to offer a different point of view: In areas where the growing season is short, I do NOT believe that the average Farmers' Market is going to be able to make long-lasting changes in the average low-income family's food choices.
Actually, that's exactly what was said by you all, just stated differently. Simply having a market or garden available won't make any appreciable changes in the lives of the people who happen to be near it. It would have to be a really well thought out year-round program that got people involved in their food system in order for the changes to be permanent. And it would probably be expensive, which is why I believe more of these kinds of programs don't already exist.
This may be the farmkid coming out in me, but I don't believe a single season intervention will be good enough. Where's the connection to the cycle of the growing season? The WHOLE cycle, of winter is a part? The key here is getting people engaged in and aware of the process of getting Fruits and Vegetables on their tables year round. This may be through gardening programs in the summer, and canning programs in the fall as many of you have suggested. But it should probably be followed by cooking classes in the winter that focus on using the preserved foods from before. (And then in spring, after the cellar is bare, you can take your students foraging for microgreens and tiny green shoots in the cracks of the WIC parking lot).
Another thing to remember is that every region has its natural rhythms and provides for its habitants in different ways. For example, people have been living in the northern parts of Alaska for 1000s of years. They don't have fresh bell peppers in January, but they do have enough food and enough variety of foods to have a healthy lifestyle. The great thing about a Farmer's Market/Communtiy garden is that you get to be exposed to what your environment is naturally able to provide for you. Unfortunately, Modern Man isn't wild about eating acorns (which are plentiful here--all year long!). One way to make the changes last is to not only focus on fruits and vegetables, but also focus on fostering a connection between the people and the land on which they live.
I'm going to find a way to make bread out of acorns, and in the interest of fostering the connection between you, me and the soil of McLean County I expect you all to try it.
I do think that the short time frame would be enough to change eating habits long-term for participants that are ready and willing to make this change. This would be adequate time for the participants to find fruits and vegetables that they enjoy preparing and consuming. Education would also be a key component. If the participants understand the benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables, they will most likely continue to purchase and consume them when the farmers’ market is not open.
Amy, that’s a great point that participants stated that they would still purchase fruits and vegetables without the coupons. I would say that it would be safe to say that these individuals would probably maintain this lifestyle outside of the farmers’ market year round. I also agree that having education year-round including farmers’ market meetings would be a great way to keep people engaged and motivated. It will help reinforce the things they learned and discovered when the farmers’ market was open.
With these minimal time frames, I think that a majority of people would not be affected into making more/better fruit and vegetable choices. I do believe that, yes, some people will have improved fruit and vegetable consumption and choices but most will go back to eating more processed, convenience food in the colder months. Because of this negative outlook, I think a year round educational program should be administered and I think Melanie and Kara had a great ideas on how to bring the idea of the farmer's market to the grocery stores. If you think about it, a grocery store is similar to a farmer's market so why shouldn't people be educated about the fruits and vegetables provided there and also given vouchers or coupons, like they are with the processed foods, to purchase the in season fruits and vegetables? When you purchase items at a grocery store, they tend to spit coupons out at you for either products you just purchased or similar items so why not do this for fruits and vegetables. Every time you buy a F/V, a coupon prints out for 50 cents off your next purchase of produce. Education would also be key in keeping people motivated to buy fruits and vegetables.
I think the idea of canning is a good thought but I am going to have to disagree with educating the general public about canning. There are many risks that go into the canning process and the last thing we would want would be for someone to get botulism or something along those lines. So I think that the risks would outweight the benefits for canning. However, teaching people about freezing produce is a great idea because there is less risk and it is a good way to get those fresh F/V from the farmers market and save them for a later date when they are not so available.
Again, my main opinion is based off of experience from WIC, but I do think this can be enough to change their habits for the long term. Also, when it comes to WIC, they also get a voucher year round for fruits and vegetables, so even when the farmers markets aren't running, they can get more of these groups in to increase their intake.
Shelby, I love your idea about needing community programs that could teach things like canning to help extend the fruits and vegetables from the spring/summer sessions. I think it would be a great option if it could get started.
I think that with some education about alternative methods of obtaining fruits and vegetables during the winter months, this intervention would still be an effective one year-round. Teaching a canning class and providing materials would be helpful for these participants and also providing suggestions to overcome barriers to F&V consumption would also help.
Sarah Udell
I agree with Anna that providing individual counseling would be extremely helpful in overcoming barriers in the winter months as far as fruit and vegetable consumption goes.
Sarah Udell
Shelby, a community program that could teach preservation methods sounds like a great idea!
I also like the idea of the vouchers Kara as well as other views on the extra education of fruit and vegetable consumption and suggesting canned fruits and vegetables in the off-seasons. Any way to provide information on this is essential and could prove very beneficial.
Introducing fresh fruits and vegetables to a population even for a minimal amount of time may help long term habits form. some of the participants may have had the opportunity to try new fruits/veggies that they were not previously exposed to and they may have been given enough time to develop a preference for certain fruits/veggies. this short period of time may not have been long enough to change habits though. Another option would be to provide education sessions on the benefits of buying seasonal fresh fruits and veggies to save money at the store or education on the benefits and differences between frozen and canned fruit and vegetables to introduce those options.
Alison,
I agree that year round education would be key in keeping these habits going year round. Paticipants can gain appreciation for fruits/veggies during the farmer's market and continue to learn about the benefits throughout the year.
I think that focusing on increasing F&V consumption from farmer market products may not affect off-season F&V consumption much, if at all. Perhaps coupons should be transferred to be used at grocery stores during the coldest months. In some states, this may be more months than other, warmer states.
~Anna Taylor
I think the community class involving canning would be an excellent idea to maximize benefits to both the WIC participant families as well as the local farming community. The purpose for the class is to teach proper canning technique; the idea that encouraging such methods of food preservation would only increase risk of problems like botulism seems on the same plain of thinking that teaching people how to prepare foods and cook home meals would increase risk of cutting yourself or burning yourself. Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish... well you know the saying.
~Anna Taylor
Erin- I am disappointed no one has responded to your wonderful post! Please inform me when you make bread out of acorns. I really believe that if people wanted to eat fruits and vegetables year round they could, easily. The intervention of a farmers market may get the public to try a certain fruit or veg they may not have, or it may increase their knowledge of farming or what can be harvested in our town, but as far as changing dietary habits I don't see it happening. Now cooking classes, like you mentioned, could be a huge help.
I know I went to a cooking class at the Garden Press in Normal and we used all farmers market items. In the beginning of the class we walked to the normal farmers market and everything we made during the class was bought from the farmers market. I was thoroughly impressed and how far the food stretched, so that definitely changed my dietary habits. Picking the right intervention for changing habits is hard, and unfortunately just education may not be enough.
And by Garden Press I mean Garlic Press- sorry!
Erin, I agree with you that the amount of time is most likely not enough to make a lasting change for the participants. I also really like your idea about having programs and classes throughout the year to really make an impact and instill in the participants the importance of fruits and vegetables consumption.
Rose, I think you also have a point about if the participants are ready and willing to change. In that case, I would agree that the short program should be enough for them to make long-lasting changes.
I believe that farmers markets can definitely help in efforts to increase fruit and vegetable intake and nutritional awareness in general. However, I think that it is important to continue endorsing the consumption of these foods throughout the colder months because people tend to “fall off”. Interventions at the community level are great. An example could be work-site interventions that get families and the entire organization involved and include nutritional presentations, comparing prices of fast food to actual prices of ingredients from local grocery stores used home-cooked meals, worker participation in program planning and implementation, and programs aimed at changes in the workplace environment.
Melanie -
I totally agree with you. You definitely have to "retrain" your taste buds and develop repetition. We weren't born liking greasy fast food, we developed the habit of consuming it all the time. The same hold for nutritious foods.
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