Variation in the quantity and variety of vegetable intake by supply sources and production areas in rural Japan

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether vegetable supply sources and production areas are associated with the quantity and variety of vegetable intake.

Materials and Methods: The setting of this cross-sectional study was one agricultural district (114 households) in Japan. Respondents were asked about their use of 10 vegetable supply sources (e.g., home-grown, receiving from others) and their vegetable intake frequency from five production areas (e.g., home-grown, district-grown). Vegetable intake quantity and variety were assessed using validated scales.

Results: Among the 163 included participants (73 men and 90 women), the quantity of vegetable intake was significantly greater among men who were home-grown vegetable consumers than among non-consumers. The variety of vegetable intake was significantly greater among men who received vegetables than among non-receivers, among supermarket non-users than among users, and among women who used farmers’ markets outside the district than among non-users. For vegetable production areas, the variety was significantly greater among men with high district-grown vegetable intake than among those with low intake and among women with high city-grown vegetable intake than among those with low intake.

Conclusion: Both vegetable supply sources and production areas were associated with the quantity and variety of vegetable intake, which may provide insights into potential environmental factors influencing eating behaviors. Specifically, home-grown, received, and farmers’ market vegetable sources were positively associated with a greater quantity and variety of vegetable intake, whereas supermarket use was negatively associated with variety. Vegetable production areas, such as district- or city-grown areas, were also positively associated with variety.