Using mobile fruit vendors to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables for schoolchildren

Prev Chronic Dis. 2012:9:E102. doi: 10.5888/pcd9.110222. Epub 2012 May 24.

Abstract

This study explored the extent to which schoolchildren purchased precut and bagged fruits and vegetables from a mobile fruit vendor (frutero). During 14 days in fall 2008, a frutero sold fruits and vegetables at the entrance of an elementary school; 59% of the frutero's 233 consumers of 248 items were elementary-school students. With each successive day, an average of 1 additional bag of fruits and vegetables was sold by the frutero and 1.5 fewer nonnutritious foods by a competing vendor. Policies encouraging the sale of nutritious foods from mobile food vendors may increase access for schoolchildren.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • California
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Commerce / methods*
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Food Packaging
  • Food Services / economics*
  • Food Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Fruit / supply & distribution*
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Residence Characteristics* / statistics & numerical data
  • School Health Services*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Time Factors
  • Vegetables / supply & distribution*