title: Disparities in healthy food zoning, farmers' market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption among North Carolina residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Context and purpose of the study. To examine (1) associations between county-level zoning to support farmers' market placement and county-level farmers' market availability, rural/urban designation, percent African American residents, and percent of residents living below poverty and (2) individual-level associations between zoning to support farmers' markets; fruit and vegetable consumption and body mass index (BMI) among a random sample of residents of six North Carolina (NC) counties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Zoning ordinances were scored to indicate supportiveness for healthy food outlets. Number of farmers' markets (per capita) was obtained from the NC-Community Transformation Grant Project Fruit and Vegetable Outlet Inventory (2013). County-level census data on rural/urban status, percent African American, and percent poverty were obtained. For data on farmers' market shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption, and BMI, trained interviewers conducted a random digit dial telephone survey of residents of six NC counties (3 urban and 3 rural). Pearson correlation coefficients and multilevel linear regression models were used to examine county-level and individual-level associations between zoning supportiveness, farmers' market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption and BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the county-level, healthier food zoning was greater in more urban areas and areas with less poverty. At the individual-level, self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with healthier food zoning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disparities in zoning to promote healthy eating should be further examined, and future studies should assess whether amending zoning ordinances will lead to greater availability of healthy foods and changes in dietary behavior and health outcomes.
authors: Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, MS 660, Lakeside Annex 7, Greenville, NC 27834 USA.
authors: Stephanie Bell
authors: SB
authors: Jilcott Pitts
authors: Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, MS 660, Lakeside Annex 7, Greenville, NC 27834 USA.
authors: Mariel Leah Mayo
authors: ML
authors: Acheson
authors: Department of Community Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN USA.
authors: Rachel K
authors: RK
authors: Ward
authors: Department of Biostatistics, East Carolina University, 2435D Health Sciences Building, Greenville, NC 27834 USA.
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA.
authors: Jared T
authors: JT
authors: McGuirt
authors: Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA.
authors: Sally L
authors: SL
authors: Bullock
authors: Center for Survey Research, Office of Innovation and Economic Development, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA.
authors: Mandee F
authors: MF
authors: Lancaster
authors: Center for Survey Research, Office of Innovation and Economic Development, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA.
authors: Justin
authors: J
authors: Raines
authors: Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7426, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7426 USA.
authors: Alice S
authors: AS
authors: Ammerman
keywords: Disparities; Farmers’ market; Zoning ordinance