University At Buffalo Campus Veggie Van Mobile Market

Active, not recruiting

Brief Summary: The goal of this observational study is to develop an adaptable mobile produce market model to be used on college campuses to increase college students' access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Food insecurity on college campuses threatens academic success and student well-being, and affects first generation, lower-income, and racial/ethnic minority students at higher rates. This research will include a pilot campus mobile market operated on the University at Buffalo campus. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1.) What makes it hard for students to eat healthy foods on the University at Buffalo campus, 2.) How does a mobile market need to operate on a college campus to best reach students, and 3.) What is the relationship between mobile market use and changes in how many fruits and vegetables students eat, students' ability to consistently eat foods that promote health and well-being, and participation in the Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Detailed Description: As first-generation, low-income, and racial/ethnic minority students have improved their access to higher education, food insecurity in United States campuses has increased and threatens their academic success and well-being. College food pantries have been the most common solution but only offer short-term emergency relief, and stigma has prevented their use. To provide a longer-term evidence-based approach that honors students' choices and dignity, this research will inform the development of an adaptable campus mobile market model that consistently provides access to healthy food and promotes nutrition security. The clinical trial portion of the research will evaluate how intervention dosage, gauged by University at Buffalo Campus Veggie Van (UB Veggie Van) visits, total fruit and vegetable purchasing, and incentive redemption, is associated with changes in fruit and vegetable consumption (including skin carotenoids), nutrition security measures, and Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment from the beginning to the end of the semester.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption	Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period	Fruit and vegetable consumption will be assessed using the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Fruit and Vegetable (FV) module
Nutrition Security	Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period	The Nutrition Security, Healthfulness Choice, and Dietary Choice Measure assesses factors associated with the ability of an individual to obtain foods that meet their nutritional and health needs and dietary preferences, without resource limitations or worry. Barriers to utilization will be assessed with a measure developed by Calloway et al., which includes eight items that assess tangible and intangible barriers to preparing healthful meals from the food a person can access.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Enrollment	Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period	A single survey question asking: "Did you participate in the following programs during the \[semester before or during the intervention\]?: Food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits), Special Supplemental Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, Government cash assistance including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Insurance (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or government assistance (but not including social security benefits).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Intervention Dosage	Collected throughout the 13-week intervention period	Number of visits to the UB Veggie Van over the intervention period, total fruit and vegetable spending, and amount of purchasing incentives redeemed--these metrics will be tracked using the Veggie Van POS (Farmers Register).