Table 3.
Sample participant quotes from focus group discussions among low-income adult residents (n 28) of three affordable housing communities in Washington, DC, USA
| Theme | Sub-theme | Sample quotes |
|---|---|---|
| Perceptions of farmers’ markets | Knowledge | ‘Yes, there is one on Columbia Road in Mt. Pleasant.’ (Spanish) ‘The last time [a farmers’ market] was open was on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9–10.’ (English) |
| Current participation | ‘We shop when we get vouchers and when they’re in season.’ (Older Adults) ‘Twice a month.’ (Amharic) | |
| Benefits | [Referring to the vendors] ‘They’re very friendly.’ (English) ‘I usually buy my cucumbers, kale … very good I love it … Oh the fruits! I get apples and things like that, grapes and stuff.’ (Older Adults) | |
| Barriers | ‘Know why we don’t buy at the farmers’ market? We see that it’s expensive.’ (Older Adults) ‘Because I haven’t got [WIC] yet, I have to apply.’ (Spanish) | |
| Perceptions of CSA | Benefits | ‘I’m happy because I don’t have to go to the store...’ (English) ‘Sometimes in the summer it gets real hot and most of us here don’t have transportation.’ (Older Adults) |
| Barriers | ‘I like to go see what I’m buying. What I want.’ (Spanish) ‘Farmers will [only] have what’s in the boxes. If stuff is really low, it won’t be distributed.’ (Older Adults) | |
| Questions/concerns | ‘About the package that you send, do we pick out the food?’ (Older Adults) ‘Are any products … like soy milk or any other non-dairy produce available?’ (Amharic) | |
| Need/interest in additional programming | Nutrition education | ‘I am definitely interested in, you know, healthy meals and stuff.’ (Older Adults) ‘A cooking class.’ (Amharic) |
| Non-nutrition education | ‘Zumba.’ (English) ‘An ESL class … and computer class.’ (Amharic) | |
| Qualities of programming | ‘Demonstration … taste testing … hands on.’ (English) ‘Show [residents] exactly how they’ll benefit.’ (Older Adults) | |
| Perceived barriers | ‘The only thing would be if they [the cooking classes] cooked with garlic and onion … that always makes me leave, and the majority cook with it.’ (Spanish) ‘[Residents] not coming.’ (Older Adults) | |
| Current health knowledge and behaviours | Dietary behaviours | ‘I live by myself. So yes, I eat great food.’ (Amharic) ‘I was raised on pork. Now, maybe if I eat pork, it’s once a month.’ (English) |
| Health recommendations | ‘And you don’t have to eat meat every time we eat at dinner.’ (English) ‘Frying is not healthy for you.’ (English) | |
| Health concerns | ‘Diabetes … high blood pressure’ (English) ‘My brother has diabetes and I have high blood pressure.’ (Older Adults) |
CSA, community-supported agriculture; WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; ESL, English as a Second Language.