School-based Research and Initiatives: Fruit and Vegetable Environment, Policy, and Pricing Workshop

This paper identifies and describes school-based interventions to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables among students in school settings that primarily consisted of multi-component interventions that sometimes included an environmental intervention component. Results of these interventions have been positive, especially in their effects on fruit intake. The results of shorter term environmental interventions that used lower prices or increased availability as strategies to increase fruit and vegetable intake have been positive. Several new approaches currently being piloted in schools include school gardening programs, salad bars using fresh produce from local farmers' markets, and in-school, free fruit and vegetable distribution programs. The authors discuss the economics of competitive foods and the role that financial profitability plays in decisions about food availability and sales in the school setting.