Examining Potential Modifiers of Human Skin and Plasma Carotenoid Responses in a Randomized Trial of a Carotenoid-Containing Juice Intervention.

Background: Skin carotenoid measurements are emerging as a valid and reliable indicator of fruit and vegetable intake and carotenoid intake. However, little is known about the extent to which skin carotenoid responsivity to dietary changes differs based on demographic and physiologic characteristics.

Objectives: This study examined potential effect modifiers of skin carotenoid and plasma carotenoid responses to a carotenoid-rich juice intervention.

A Mixed-Methods Study to Evaluate the Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing an Electronic Health Record Social Determinants of Health Screening Instrument into Routine Clinical Oncology Practice.

Background: Routine screening for social determinants of health (SDOH) in the outpatient oncology setting is uncommon. The primary goal of this study was to prospectively evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing an electronic health record (EHR) SDOH screening instrument into routine, clinical, oncology practice.

Methods: Adult patients with newly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancer presenting to a regional cancer center (November 2020 to July 2021) were eligible.

Cost analysis and cost effectiveness of a subsidized community supported agriculture intervention for low-income families.

Background: The food system has a dynamic influence on disparities in food security and diet-related chronic disease. Community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, in which households receive weekly shares of produce from a local farmer during the growing season, have been examined as a possible food systems-based approach for improving diet and health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost of implementing and participating in a multi-component subsidized community supported agriculture intervention and calculate cost-effectiveness based on diet and food security impacts.

Fruit and Vegetable Preparation Changes During and After Cost-Offset Community-Supported Agriculture Plus Nutrition Education.

Objective: Inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) can negatively impact health. Cost-offset, or subsidized, community-supported agriculture (CO-CSA) may change FV preparation behaviors among caregivers in low-income households. We assessed changes in FV preparation frequency and methods during and after participation in a CO-CSA plus tailored nutrition education intervention.

Evidence of Geospatial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Access to Online Grocery Shopping for Fresh and Frozen Produce in North Carolina.

Background: Online grocery shopping is a rapidly growing food procurement approach in the United States with the potential to improve food access. Limited research has focused on understanding differential access to online grocery shopping that provides healthier items such as fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.

Objective: The study aim was to understand geospatial, socioeconomic, and racial disparities in the availability of healthy online grocery shopping and online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) acceptance in North Carolina.

Participation in cost-offset community-supported agriculture by low-income households in the USA is associated with community characteristics and operational practices.

Objective: Subsidised or cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CO-CSA) connects farms directly to low-income households and can improve fruit and vegetable intake. This analysis identifies factors associated with participation in CO-CSA.

Design: Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) provided a half-price, summer CO-CSA plus healthy eating classes to low-income households with children.

Pressure-Mediated Reflection Spectroscopy Criterion Validity as a Biomarker of Fruit and Vegetable Intake: A 2-Site Cross-Sectional Study of 4 Racial or Ethnic Groups.

Background: Valid biomarkers of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake are needed for field-based nutrition research.

Objectives: To examine criterion-related validity of pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy as a proxy measure of FV intake, using plasma carotenoids and self-reported FV and carotenoid intake as primary and secondary criterion measures, respectively.

Methods: Healthy adults 18-65 y of age, self-identifying as African American/black (n = 61), Asian (n = 53), white (n = 70), or Hispanic (n = 29), in North Carolina and Minnesota were recruited.

Perceived barriers and facilitators to participating in the North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program: a mixed-methods examination considering investment effectiveness.

Objective: The North Carolina Legislature appropriated funds in 2016-2019 for the Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (HFSRP), providing small retailers located in food deserts with equipment to stock nutrient-dense foods and beverages. The study aimed to: (1) examine factors facilitating and constraining implementation of, and participation in, the HFSRP from the perspective of storeowners and (2) measure and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of investment in the HFSRP.

Design: The current analysis uses both qualitative and quantitative assessments of storeowner perceptions and store outcomes, as well as two innovative measures of policy investment effectiveness.

Community supported agriculture plus nutrition education improves skills, self-efficacy, and eating behaviors among low-income caregivers but not their children: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Adults and children in the U.S. consume inadequate quantities of fruit and vegetables (FV), in part, due to poor access among households with lower socioeconomic status.

Qualitative perspectives of the North Carolina healthy food small retailer program among customers in participating stores located in food deserts.

Background: The North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (NC HFSRP) was established through a policy passed by the state legislature to provide funding for small food retailers located in food deserts with the goal of increasing access to and sales of healthy foods and beverages among local residents. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine perceptions of the NC HFSRP among store customers.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 customers from five NC HFSRP stores in food deserts across eastern NC.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake Assessed by Repeat 24 h Recalls, but Not by A Dietary Screener, Is Associated with Skin Carotenoid Measurements in Children.

Accurate measurement of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is important for nutrition surveillance and evaluation of dietary interventions. We compared two tools for reporting FV intake to objective measurement of skin carotenoids among children. FV cups/day was assessed by repeated 24 h dietary recalls (24H FV) and the National Cancer Institute's All-Day Fruit and Vegetable Screener (NCI FV).

A four-year observational study to examine the dietary impact of the North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program, 2017-2020.

Background: The North Carolina (NC) Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (HFSRP) was passed into law with a $250,000 appropriation (2016-2018) providing up to $25,000 in funding to small food stores for equipment to stock healthier foods and beverages. This paper describes an observational natural experiment documenting the impact of the HFSRP on store food environments, customers' purchases and diets.

Methods: Using store observations and intercept surveys from cross-sectional, convenience customer samples (1261 customers in 22 stores, 2017-2020; 499 customers in 7 HFSRP stores, and 762 customers in 15 Comparison stores), we examined differences between HFSRP and comparison stores regarding: (1) change in store-level availability, quality, and price of healthy foods/beverages; (2) change in healthfulness of observed food and beverage purchases ("bag checks"); and, (3) change in self-reported and objectively-measured (Veggie Meter®-assessed skin carotenoids) customer dietary behaviors.

Associations between shopping patterns, dietary behaviours and geographic information system-assessed store accessibility among small food store customers.

Objective: To examine associations between geographic information systems (GIS)-assessed accessibility to small food stores, shopping patterns and dietary behaviours among small food store customers.

Design: Residential addresses and customer shopping patterns (frequency of shopping, and previous purchase of fruits and vegetables) were gathered through customer intercept surveys. Addresses were geocoded, and GIS-assessed distance and driving time from the participants' residence to the store were calculated.

Making community-supported agriculture accessible to low-income families: findings from the Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids process evaluation.

A randomized trial of Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) was initiated across 4 states and 12 farms to test whether cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CO-CSA) could improve diet quality among children in low-income families. Intervention households purchased a 50% subsidized share of local produce and were invited to nine complimentary nutrition classes. The purpose of this study was to assess F3HK reach, dose, and fidelity via a mixed methods process evaluation.

Perceptions of nutrition education classes offered in conjunction with a community-supported agriculture intervention among low-income families.

Objective: To examine participants' experiences with nutrition education classes that were implemented with and designed to complement a cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CSA) programme.

Design: Qualitative analysis of data from twenty-eight focus groups with ninety-six participants enrolled in Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK). Transcribed data were coded and analysed by a priori and emergent themes.

Food and Beverage Options at Highway Rest Areas in North Carolina: A Mixed-Methods Audit and Geospatial Approach.

Introduction: Each year, millions of people purchase food at highway rest areas. Rest areas are potential sites for health promotion because they are operated by the public sector; they are frequently visited by professional truck drivers, who have a disproportionate burden of chronic disease; and they are easily accessible. To our knowledge, no research has systematically examined the healthfulness of food offerings at rest areas.

Overcoming Barriers to Sustaining Health Equity Interventions: Insights from the National Institutes of Health Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities.

We conducted qualitative semi-structured telephone interviews with the directors of the 10 National Institutes of Health Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (NIH/CPHHD) to identify factors that were associated with the sustainability of 19 interventions developed to address cancer disparities and 17 interventions developed to address cardiovascular disease disparities in the United States. Interview transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method of analysis to identify key themes and synthesize findings. Directors at NIH/CPHHD reported that barriers to sustainability included uncertainty about future funding and insufficient resources to build and maintain diverse stakeholder partnerships.

A Mentor-Led Text-Messaging Intervention Increases Intake of Fruits and Vegetables and Goal Setting for Healthier Dietary Consumption among Rural Adolescents in Kentucky and North Carolina, 2017.

Introduction-Text-messaging interventions hold promise for successful weight loss interventions. However, there is limited research on text-messaging interventions to improve dietary intake among rural adolescents, who are at greater risk for obesity and related risk factors. The goal of this study was to test an eight-week, mentor-led text-messaging intervention among 14⁻16-year-old rural adolescents: the "Go Big and Bring It Home" Project to improve fruit and vegetable and healthy beverage intake.

Association between Spatial Access to Food Outlets, Frequency of Grocery Shopping, and Objectively-Assessed and Self-Reported Fruit and Vegetable Consumption.

Because supermarkets are a critical part of the community food environment, the purpose of this paper is to examine the association between accessibility to the supermarket where participants were surveyed, frequency of shopping at the supermarket, and self-reported and objectively-assessed fruit and vegetable consumption. Accessibility was assessed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) measured distance and multiple versions of the modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI), including a localized road network buffer version. Frequency of shopping was assessed using self-report.