Nuestro Valor: Increasing Healthier Food Access for Rural Latino Communities Through a Food Retail Intervention

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a program called The Value of Our Health (Our Value), which aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among people living in rural Latino communities. The study focuses on rural areas in central Washington State where access to fresh, affordable produce is limited, and community health workers (CHWs) are trained to deliver the intervention. This trial uses a randomized controlled design to test if customers shopping at stores receiving the program eat more fruits and vegetables than those shopping at other stores. The program lasts 12 months and is delivered in small, independent grocery stores. For the first six months, CHWs work directly with store staff to plan and implement structural changes that promote fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption, provide staff training, and engage customers through campaigns and social strategies. In the following six months, store managers and employees continue these activities with support and technical assistance from CHWs. Participants will be surveyed about their fruit and vegetable purchasing and eating habits at the start, six months, and twelve months into the study. The research team will measure changes in consumption over these periods to evaluate the program's impact. The study also aims to understand the challenges and resources involved in promoting healthy eating in rural communities and to provide evidence for future health promotion efforts. Participation duration covers at least 12 months with ongoing assessments.

Nuestro Valor: Increasing Healthier Food Access for Rural Latino Communities Through a Food Retail Intervention