title: Increasing access to fruits and vegetables: perspectives from the New York City experience.
abstract: Broad recognition now exists that price, availability, and other structural factors are meaningful barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption, particularly among low-income adults. Beginning in 2005, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene used the social-ecological model to develop a multifaceted effort to increase fruit and vegetable access citywide, with emphasis in low-income neighborhoods. Overall, the percentage of New York City adults who reported consuming no fruits and vegetables in the previous day decreased slightly over a 10-year period (2002: 14.3% [95% confidence interval = 13.4%, 15.2%]; 2012: 12.5% [95% confidence interval = 11.4%, 13.6%]; P for trend < .001). Our approach hypothesizes that complementary initiatives, implemented simultaneously, will create a citywide food environment that fuels changes in social norms and cultural preferences, increases consumer demand, and supports sustainable access to affordable produce.
authors: At the time of study, all authors were with the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Sacks
authors: Stella S
authors: SS
authors: Yi
authors: Cathy
authors: C
authors: Nonas
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005523:Food Supply; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables