title: Implementing a farmers' market incentive program: perspectives on the New York City Health Bucks Program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One strategy for lowering the prevalence of obesity is to increase access to and affordability of fruits and vegetables through farmers' markets. However, little has been documented in the literature on the implementation of such efforts. To address this gap, the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) sponsored an evaluation of the New York City Health Bucks program, a farmers' market coupon incentive program intended to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved neighborhoods while supporting local farmers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a process evaluation of Health Bucks program implementation. We interviewed 6 farmer/vendors, 3 market managers, and 4 program administrators, and collected data on site at 86 farmers' markets, including surveys of 81 managers and 141 farmer/vendors on their perspectives on promotion and redemption of the incentive coupons; knowledge and attitudes regarding the program; experiences with markets and products; and facilitators and barriers to program participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicate that respondents view Health Bucks as a positive program model. Farmers' market incentive coupon programs like Health Bucks are one strategy to address the problem of obesity and were associated with higher fruit and vegetable access and purchases in low-income communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This evaluation identified some areas for improving implementation of the Health Bucks program. Farmers' market incentive programs like Health Bucks may be one avenue to increase access to and affordability of fruits and vegetables among low-income persons. Further research is needed to assess the potential effects of these programs on access and health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Mailstop F-77, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. gpayne@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Gayle Holmes
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wethington
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olsho
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jernigan
authors.forename: Rosanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.forename: Deborah Klein
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*; D005638:Fruit / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014675:Vegetables / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution