Associations of Farmers’ Markets Utilization with Healthy and Sustainable Lifestyle Choices in Los Angeles County

Farmers’ markets temporarily transform public spaces into markets, increasing access to fresh, locally farmed produce. While their effects on public space and food environments are clear, little is known about their effects on human behavior. This study uses the Understanding America Study survey data, representative of Los Angeles County, to evaluate whether people who visit farmers’ markets report healthier and more sustainable lifestyles. We used propensity score-matched samples to compare lifestyle choices, food choices, attitudes toward climate change, food insecurity, and self-reported health between farmers’ market shoppers and nonshoppers. Results indicate that more frequent visits to farmers’ markets are associated with healthier and more sustainable food choices. Multivariate analysis of variance suggests the associations are modest but consistent in cross-sectional and longitudinal samples. As suggested by the Sustainable Development Goals, transitioning toward healthier and more sustainable food systems requires changes in both the food environment and human behavior. Results here suggest that increasing exposure to farmers’ markets could play a role in this transition by promoting healthier and more sustainable food choices among grocery shoppers.