Building the Evidence Base for the Good Food at Home Program
Overview
Healthy foods translate to better health, but access to affordable produce can be an obstacle for some Americans. This is why, since 2021, Altarum has partnered with Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to improve access to healthy foods for these communities. Together, we have worked to assess the effectiveness of PHA’s Good Food at Home program, an initiative designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among lower income families.
The initiative started as a produce box distribution program implemented in 29 cities across the United States, providing more than 17 million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to tens of thousands of families. The model has transitioned to a fruit and vegetable incentive program where participants receive funds each month to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Over the course of multiple iterations of the program, various changes have been tested, such as allowing participants to redeem incentives in-person at grocery stores or online, modifying the incentive amounts and length of time incentives are distributed, and incorporating frozen and canned produce. Evaluations were necessary to inform programmatic changes at each step to understand how the changes impacted participants’ purchasing habits and consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Approach
We began by conducting a mixed-methods study to assess outcomes of the produce box distribution model and to establish an evidence base for testing new ideas to improve and sustain the program. Through a longitudinal study with a comparison group, we evaluated the impact of the program on participants’ fruit and vegetable consumption habits over time. In subsequent studies, we conducted pre/post tests with participants to assess dietary change and program satisfaction, in addition to analyzing their purchasing habits using sales data. To gain further insights into what was working well and where there were challenges, we conducted focus groups to gather rich qualitative data about participants’ experiences in the program, including what aspects they enjoyed and those they would change.
Focus Areas
Food and NutritionExamples of Our Work
Applied Research and Analytics Advisory ServicesResults
Findings from Altarum’s evaluations have informed programmatic decisions at each stage of Good Food at Home’s evolution, including shifts from produce box distribution to incentive based models and adjustments to incentive amounts, redemption options, and eligible foods. This evidence has helped PHA assess which approaches best support families’ fruit and vegetable purchasing, consumption, and program satisfaction. Altarum’s work has positioned Good Food for at Home as a data driven national model and continues to inform future program design, dissemination, and integration with broader nutrition security efforts.
You can read more about our results on PHA’s website and published results from our produce box study in CDC’s Preventing Chronic Disease journal.
“Altarum created a framework that PHA leveraged into a leading national program. They advised us on practices and methods that created a body of evidence that shines above our peers. We have, together, influenced the health behaviors and beliefs of thousands, and established a new dynamic among the charitable and private sector.”
— Michael Waddle, Senior Director of Programs, Partnership for a Healthier America