The potential of local farming on the Navajo Nation to improve fruit and vegetable intake: barriers and opportunities.

American Indian populations have low produce intake compared to other ethnic groups and higher rates of diet-related chronic diseases. Programs linking farmers to their community (Farm-to-Table) are an innovative way to alter the food environment. We interviewed Navajo farmers (n = 20), storeowners (n = 7), and non-governmental organization representatives (n = 4) to better understand local farming practices and the potential of a Farm-to-Table program to increase produce intake.

Linking farmers to community stores to increase consumption of local produce: a case study of the Navajo Nation.

Objective: To understand the barriers to farmer participation in Farm-to-Table (F2T) programmes and to identify possible solutions to these obstacles.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of farmer perspectives on F2T programmes.

Setting: Three service units on the Navajo Nation (Chinle, Tuba City and Fort Defiance).