Intervention to Improve Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Among Arkansas Food Pantry Clients

Prev Chronic Dis. 2019 Jan 24:16:E09. doi: 10.5888/pcd16.180155.

Abstract

Food pantries serve millions of Americans, yet the nutritional quality of foods distributed has been poor. Policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes were implemented in 3 food pantries in northwest Arkansas with the aims of improving the nutritional quality of foods distributed and increasing distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables (FFVs). Between pre-intervention and 1 year follow-up, food pantry bag audits showed increases from 20,256.38 to 25,108.46 calories distributed per household (P = .009) and 0.22 to 3.33 servings of FFVs distributed per person per household (P < .001). Findings highlight the promise of pantry-level PSE interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arkansas
  • Food Assistance / economics*
  • Food Assistance / organization & administration*
  • Food Supply
  • Fruit / economics*
  • Humans
  • Nutritive Value
  • Poverty
  • Vegetables / economics*