Understanding characteristics of families who buy local produce

To examine individual characteristics associated with local produce purchasing among North Carolina families with children.

Cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2008 North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program (NC CHAMP), a representative sample of adults who have land-line telephones.

North Carolina.

Families with children who participated in the NC CHAMP (n = 2,932).

Frequency of buying local produce from local vendors in the past year.

Bivariate and multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial regression identified characteristics associated with not buying local produce and, among those who purchased local produce, the frequency of purchasing.

About half of families reported buying local produce on average once a month during the past year. In adjusted results, buying local produce was more likely among white families, lower income families, families living in rural areas, families with children who ate 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and families with children in poor health.

Findings suggest that it may be useful for dietitians and health promotion professionals to assess the availability of local produce in urban areas and to focus interventions to promote local produce purchases among black families.