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Food Co-Operatives: A Potential Community-Based Strategy to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Seema Mihrshahi

    (Department of Health Systems and Populations, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
    Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Stephanie R. Partridge

    (Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
    Westmead Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia)

  • Xiaolei Zheng

    (Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Divya Ramachandran

    (Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Debbie Chia

    (Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Sinead Boylan

    (Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Josephine Y. Chau

    (Department of Health Systems and Populations, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
    Prevention Research Collaboration, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia)

Abstract

Only 5% of Australian children and adults eat enough fruit and vegetables. Two common barriers are high cost and limited access. Food co-operatives (‘co-ops’) may have the potential to reduce these barriers. We conducted a scoping analysis of food co-ops in the Sydney region to describe their characteristics and objectives. We also conducted a survey of members and non-members of co-ops to assess their fruit and vegetable intake using validated questions. Fifteen food co-ops were identified in the Sydney region and the most common objective was to provide cheap affordable produce. Most co-ops (61%) were in areas of high socio-economic status (SES). Members of food co-ops had a higher vegetable intake than non-members [mean difference (MD) = 0.54 serves/daily; 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.15 to 0.93] and were also more likely to meet the recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake [odds ratio (OR) = 4.77 (95% CI = 1.15, 19.86)]. Implications of this study are that if food co-ops can be implemented on a wider scale, they hold potential for improving fruit and vegetable intakes.

Suggested Citation

  • Seema Mihrshahi & Stephanie R. Partridge & Xiaolei Zheng & Divya Ramachandran & Debbie Chia & Sinead Boylan & Josephine Y. Chau, 2020. "Food Co-Operatives: A Potential Community-Based Strategy to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:11:p:4154-:d:369817
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    Cited by:

    1. Dongmin Lee, 2022. "Effects of Food Cooperative Membership on What Consumers Buy and Where They Buy: Evidence from Korean Household Panel Data 2015–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-9, September.

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