Description: Percent of Buncombe adults who ate 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day. This question was included in the survey every two years.

NOTE: Beginning in 2011 the question included consumption of beans. Also, the data by county is no longer available beginning in 2014 and therefore, it is not displayed on this graph.

Source: NC Center for Health Statistics, Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) at http://www.schs.state.nc.us/data/brfss/survey.htm This county-level indicator can only be updated through 2013. See BRFSS data for western NC (compared to NC) beginning in 2011.

CAUTION: Due to changes in weighting methodology and other factors, results prior to 2011 are not comparable. Use caution when reviewing the year-to-year data on this graph.

Having the opportunity to eat healthy is impacted by a whole cluster of conditions. It is impacted by our food system, everything from how we grow food to how it is sold, directly from the farmer, in a big-name grocery store or everything in between. How it is priced, where it is placed on the shelf, how it is marketed or if a retail location is on the bus line, all can help or hurt access. Nutritional literacy....being familiar with a variety of produce and knowing how to prepare it plays a role as does social and cultural norms. Policies and environment in schools and workplaces can be very important factors that promote or hinder healthy eating.

Many organizations are working on various aspects of this issue and several community plans exist to outline strategies, including:

• Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council - Food Master Plan
• City of Asheville - Food Action Plan
• Buncombe County Government - Sustainability Plan

Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council, Youth Empowered Solutions, Buncombe Co WIC Program, Buncombe Co HHS, UNC Asheville, Healthy Buncombe, Gardens That Give, Bounty and Soul, Buncombe Co Cooperative Extension, Town of Black Mountain, City of Asheville, FEAST, Community Care of WNC, Society of St. Andrew, Bountiful Cities, Women's Wellbeing Development Foundation, Ujaama Freedom Market, ASAP, YWCA, YMCA, ABIPA, MANNA, Buncombe Co Parks & Greenways, Smart Start, Land-of-Sky, Mission Health/NC Preconception Health Campaign, WNC Healthy Kids

Community partners are focusing on the following elements that contribute to the ability of those in Buncombe County, particularly low-resource individuals, to eat healthy nutritious foods. These key areas are the focus of identified strategies to improve access and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables

• Community groups provide food to those in need
• Getting economic support resources to those in need
• Community gardens in low-resource communities
• School Nutrition Literacy and Farms to School programs
• Provide access to affordable retail outlets for low-resource neighborhoods.
• Increase production and demand for local food
• Worksite supports to promote healthy eating.