1. program evaluation of a pilot program to bring healthy food access to underserved areas of Austin, Texas
Sarah Seidel, DrPH; Kathleen Galvin, MPH; Sarah Stein-Lobovitz, MPAff
Austin Public Health
Introduction
Results – Process Evaluation
Results – Purchasing & Sales
Providing fresh fruits and vegetables at convenient locations in areas where access to full-service grocery stores is limited and chronic disease prevalence is high has the potential to increase purchasing, preparation, and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Farm stands and mobile markets offer produce at lower prices than traditional farmer’s markets and are set up at schools, community centers, and parks for easier access. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess process and outcome measures related to the implementation of seven sites (four farm stands and three mobile markets) in southern and eastern areas of the city of Austin.
Coverage:
82% of participants resided in the zip code where they shopped at the mobile market or farm stand.
Hornsby Bend mobile market drew participants from zip codes further away, indicating that teachers and staff may have been common participants at the market.
Most participants were female, were White or Latino/Hispanic, and lived in households with 3 or more people, with at least one child at home.
Satisfaction: (N=84)
Satisfaction with variety, quality, and prices was high: % were either satisfied or very satisfied.
Satisfaction with the days, times, location, and staff was high: % were either satisfied or very satisfied.
Approximately 10% of participants were unsatisfied with the days the markets/stands were open.
Number of Sites: 7
Days Open: 69
Participants: 890 (411 new; 479 repeat)
Average Participants per day:14
Total sales: $6,860.10
Farm Stand Sales: $1,933
Mobile Market Sales: $4,926
Average # of produce types:
Farm Stands: 9
Mobile Markets: 13
Average # of staple good types:
Farm Stands: Not offered
Mobile Markets: 6
Average Sales per Participant: $7.71
Farm Stands: $4.96
Mobile Markets: $8.93
SNAP Participants: 6%
SNAP Sales: $583.99
Average SNAP Sales per Participant: $11.23
Farm Stands: $8.58
Mobile Markets: $18.43
Inputs
Farmers
Fresh Produce
Farm Stands/Mobile Markets
SNAP/Double Dollar Program
Staff
Recipe Cards & Samples
Activities
Providing fresh produce
Providing staple goods
Promoting the program at schools and in the community
Providing incentives for purchase
Accepting SNAP
Providing Double Dollar program
Outputs
Pounds of fresh produce
Quantity of staple goods
Number of operational days
Number of participants
Number of sites
Amount of SNAP purchases
Amount of Double Dollars utilized
Number of incentives redeemed
Outcomes
Short Term:
Decrease perceived barriers to accessing fresh produce (location, cost)
Increase self-efficacy to cook and serve fresh produce
Increase preference for and liking of fresh produce
Intermediate:
Increase # of servings of fresh produce consumed
Long Term:
Reduce chronic disease prevalence
Reduce health care costs associated with chronic diseases
Figure 1. Logic Model of Farm Stands & Mobile Markets
Methods and Materials
A process and outcome evaluation comprising participation and purchasing and sales data from weekly reports, a 15-item customer satisfaction survey, onsite evaluator observation, a 5-item provider questionnaire, and a 20-item participant outcome survey was conducted in September-December Process measures included participation, purchasing, implementation of program components, participant satisfaction and differences across sites. Outcome measures included self-reported fruit and vegetable purchasing, preparation and consumption habits. Because of the short market season, outcome surveys were administered as a posttest only to participants who had previously shopped at the farm stand or mobile market. Descriptive statistics were compiled using Stata 14.0.
Figure 3. Healthy Food Access Locations in Travis County
Results – Outcome Evaluation (N=49)
Fruit & Vegetable Shopping Habits:
84% of participants buy produce every time they shop.
Most participants shop at HEB for their produce (78%).
63% of participants shop for groceries once a week or less.
82% eat fresh produce 3 times or more per week.
37% eat fresh produce at least once a day (7 times per week).
Food Insecurity:
14% are sometimes or usually worried about having enough food to eat.
18% sometimes or usually go without enough food to eat.
Outcomes:
Over 75% of participants indicated their ability to save money on fresh produce had increased somewhat or greatly because of the farm stands or mobile markets
82% reported their ability to prepare fresh produce increased somewhat or greatly
69% reported the amount of fresh produce they ate increased somewhat or greatly
85% reported the variety of fresh produce they ate increased somewhat or greatly.
Discussion & Recommendations
SNAP/DDIP participation was low (6%), though participants using SNAP had higher than average sales per participant. As this is a population group in need of improved access to fresh fruits and vegetables, marketing to and reaching SNAP/WIC participants should be a priority going forward.
Fruit should be offered whenever possible.
Implementation of incentive items and educational components (recipes, taste testing, samples) was not consistent (and sometimes nonexistent) across sites. This was a missed opportunity to increase participants’ knowledge, liking, and preference for new vegetables.
Offering dry goods increases total sales and sales per participants. Dry goods/staples should be expanded and offered at farm stands in addition to mobile markets if possible.
Figure 2. Mobile Market at Los Cielos Park (Operated by Farmshare Austin)
Contact
Sarah Seidel, DrPH
Research Analyst
Austin Public Health
Website:
Phone: