Impact of a modified produce prescription program on fruit and vegetable intake in an HBCU

This pilot study assessed the impact of a produce prescription intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption among 55 students at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Students were assigned to either an intervention group (n=28), which received biweekly personalized produce bags in addition to nutrition education and cooking demonstrations, or a control group (n=27), which received education and demonstrations only. The intervention group showed significant within-group increases in intake of fruits, 100% fruit juice, green leafy vegetables, cooked beans, other non-deep-fried vegetables, and tomato sauce, while the control group did not. Though most between-group differences at endline were not statistically significant, the observed patterns suggest promise for produce prescription programs in HBCU settings and support the need for larger, more rigorously powered studies.