title: Overcoming challenges to effectiveness of mobile markets in US food deserts.
abstract: The purpose of this research is to investigate whether mobile food markets may be effective in facilitating healthy food choices in food deserts. We investigate who does and does not use mobile food markets and why, and whether mobile markets have the potential to alter attitudes and food choices, and if so, how? We use a focus group study at four sites in the US to ask groups of mobile market shoppers and non-shoppers about their shopping, cooking, and eating attitudes and behaviors. We find that mobile market shoppers eat significantly more servings of fruits and vegetables, however, both shoppers and non-shoppers perceive fruits and vegetables as luxury items, and both groups lack knowledge about what is a serving and what is the recommended number of servings per day. Both groups identified the following needs for mobile markets to be more successful: increased awareness and advertising; affordability; improved convenience by offering more stops and hours, as well as greater variety of items for one-stop shopping; emphasis on value and service; and building trust within communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Consumer Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 Linden Dr, Room 4104 2, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. Electronic address: lzepeda@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zepeda
authors.affiliation: Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 550 North Park Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reznickova
authors.affiliation: US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Transportation and Marketing Program, 1400 Independence Ave., SW - Room 4545, Washington, DC 20025, USA.
authors.forename: Luanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lohr
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005523:Food Supply; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: Food access; Fruits and vegetables; Low-income households; Public health