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Research Project: Interplay of the Physical Environment, Social Domain, and Intrapersonal Factors on Nutrition and Physical Activity Related Health Behaviors in Children and Adolescents

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Title: Farmers' market versus grocery store produce: results of the Delta Produce Sources Study

Author
item Thomson, Jessica
item Goodman, Melissa
item LANDRY, ALICIA - University Of Central Arkansas
item Walls, Tameka

Submitted to: Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2021
Publication Date: 11/14/2021
Citation: Thomson, J.L., Goodman, M.H., Landry, A.S., Walls, T.I. 2021. Farmers' market versus grocery store produce: results of the Delta Produce Sources Study. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. 19(1):119-132. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2021.1977207.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2021.1977207

Interpretive Summary: Southern states as well as counties in the Mississippi River Delta region traditionally rank low for factors associated with health outcomes (e.g., obesity and food environment index). Thus, increasing access to affordable, nutritious food in Lower Mississippi Delta communities is essential for improving health outcomes with nutrition related etiology. Simultaneous assessment of farmers markets and grocery stores in terms of availability and variety of fresh locally sourced produce may be useful for guiding the development of policies and programs designed to increase rural residents’ access to fresh and affordable food. Hence, the objective of the Delta Produce Sources Study was to measure and compare food environments of farmers markets and grocery stores in rural towns located in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Availability, source, quality, and price of 13 fresh fruits and 32 fresh vegetables at farmers markets and grocery stores in 5 rural towns were assessed and compared. Study results indicated that fresh produce variety in farmers markets was low whereas quality produce was more prevalent at farmers markets than grocery stores. Few fresh produce were identified as locally sourced in grocery stores. To potentially improve the health of rural residents as well as their own economic sustainability, both farmers markets and grocery stores should consider capitalizing on the growing consumer demand for fresh, locally sourced produce by increasing the variety and amount of such produce available in their markets and stores.

Technical Abstract: Food environments of three farmers’ markets and 12 grocery stores located in five Mississippi Delta towns were measured and descriptively compared. Availability, source, quality, and price of 13 fruits and 32 vegetables were measured from June 2019 to March 2020. Availability was lower for farmers’ markets than grocery stores (29 vs. 39 items) with 27 (93%) farmers’ markets produce sourced locally and four (10%) grocery store produce sourced locally. Prices were higher for farmers’ markets than grocery stores with four exceptions. Compared to grocery stores, farmers’ markets had less variety and higher prices, but locally sourced produce were more prevalent.