title: The Garden of Eden: acknowledging the impact of race and class in efforts to decrease obesity rates.
abstract: Geographic assessments indicate that the selection of produce in local supermarkets varies by both area-level income and racial composition. These differences make it particularly difficult for low-income African American families to make healthy dietary choices. The Garden of Eden produce market was created to improve access to high-quality, affordable produce for these communities. The Garden of Eden is housed in a church in an economically depressed African American community in St Louis, Mo, that has less access to fresh produce than surrounding communities. All staff are from the community and are paid a living wage. The market is run with an eye toward sustainability, with partners from academia, a local faith-based community organization, businesses, and community members collaborating to make all program decisions.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. bakerpa@slu.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnidge
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strayhorn
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schootman
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Struthers
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D035841:Behavioral Research; D003132:Commerce / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D005638:Fruit / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005843:Geography; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012067:Religion; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables / Q000600:supply & distribution*