TriHealth, Cincinnati, OH
The Effect of a Mobile Produce Market on Dietary Habits in Two Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods

Background: Low-income neighborhoods in Cincinnati, OH lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables. TriHealth partnered with a local food bank to start a year-round mobile market in 2 metro areas. The aim of our quality improvement project was to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in food-scarce neighborhoods.

Methods: Food perception data were obtained from patients who visited Samaritan Faculty Medical Center and Obstetrics Clinic and Bethesda Family Practice on the day that the mobile food bank was present. Participants completed the Fruit and Vegetable Inventory survey, an evaluation tool for nutrition education programs serving low-income communities. The survey was repeated 6–8 months after enrollment via a phone call from residents and physicians. Preparticipation and postparticipation body mass indexes (BMIs) were collected when possible.

Results: We successfully partnered with a local food bank to provide our patients with weekly access to purchase fruits and vegetables. We established and maintained a customer base. Although no statistically significant data were obtained, the intervention appeared to have a positive influence on attitudes regarding fruit and vegetable intake. We saw an increase in the percentage of participants who reported a perceived benefit in a diet containing fruits and vegetables and a perceived risk of a diet void of fruits and vegetables. The majority of participants had an improvement in their perceived diet quality. BMI analysis of 20 patients showed no change during the study period.

Conclusion: Increased access to fruits and vegetables appears to have a positive impact at least on attitude toward eating a more healthy diet. Future studies can see if this change in attitude results in a change in behavior by identifying if customers are study participants. A mobile food market appears to be a viable option to address food deserts.