The Farmer's Market Effect: A Concrete Way to Make a Real Difference

Vouchers that permit low-income women to shop at a local farmers’ market increase fruit and vegetable consumption in poor families, a new study shows. After six months, women who shopped at the farmers’ markets were eating about three additional servings of fruits and vegetables a day, compared to the control group. Supermarket shoppers consumed 1.5 extra servings. Some women told the researchers that the produce sold at markets seemed to be fresher and of higher quality than supermarket offerings. Many shoppers also said they enjoyed the pleasant community experience and the chance to interact directly with growers, the authors noted. Let's create policy to encourage poor families to shop at Farmer's Markets!

rylan submitted 354 Days Ago, well.blogs.nytimes.com, 1 of 1 people found this post informative
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by Laura on 01/18/08 (0 of 0 people found this comment informative)

That's a super idea! Sort of an indirect way for government to help support both an area's local farmers and the poor at the same time, while cutting down on landfill from grocery store packaging. Mix in free public transportation passes for anyone traveling to/from a farmers' market and we could cut down on traffic and fuel consumption as well. That would be a great system change.

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by clairity on 01/19/08 (0 of 0 people found this comment informative)

What a great policy/idea. I was charmed to find a Farmer's Market at the Kaiser Permanente Health complex and hospital when I went there - obviously subsidized by the health-care provider because the cost of produce was lower than is standard around here. I stocked up! Selling greens as preventative medicine - keeps people healthier and thus Kaiser's costs down. Good for all.

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