HENS Fruit & Vegetable Working Group

Introduction:

Research shows that people who consume diets high in fruits and vegetables are protected against developing various chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancers (mainly those cancers of the gastrointestinal system). Currently most Nova Scotians do not meet the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables per day needed for good health¹. Our low intakes of fruits and vegetables are coupled with increasing obesity rates across Nova Scotia and a high prevalence of chronic disease in our province. Increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables would help to prevent chronic disease, save millions of dollars to the healthcare system - not to mention many lives. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is a matter of acceptability, availability, accessibility, and awareness.

Objectives:

The Fruit and Vegetable Working Group of Healthy Eating Nova Scotia (HENS) is comprised of representatives from the non-profit, private, and public sectors whose purpose is to provide the necessary leadership to support and coordinate the implementation of objectives related to fruit and vegetable consumption in Nova Scotia. Specifically, these objectives are:

• To increase consumption of fruit and vegetables among all Nova Scotians;
• To increase the availability of fruit and vegetables in community, work, school and health care settings; and
• To improve access to and affordability of fruit and vegetables for low-income populations.

Current Work:

Throughout 2006-2007 the activities of the Fruit and Vegetable Working Group focused primarily on the HENS strategic direction of knowledge development and translation with the goal of identifying opportunities, gaps, and resources required to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in Nova Scotia. A needs assessment titled Increasing Fruits and Vegetables in Nova Scotia was produced and provides recommendations or actions that must be taken to meet the fruit and vegetable objectives outlined in Healthy Eating Nova Scotia. Another key activity of the Fruit and Vegetable Working Group was an action planning workshop to identify future directions for the Working Group.

Summary Report: Fruit and Vegetable Working Group of Healthy Eating Nova Scotia 2006-2007

During 2008, the Fruit and Vegetable Working Group has been focusing on the health communications strategic direction of HENS. A provincial social marketing campaign is currently in development which will aim to increase Nova Scotians consumption of fruits and vegetables within the context of affordability, accessibility, and availability. The campaign is expected to officially launch in early 2009.

1 Canadian Community Health Survey, 2004