Veggie consumption, by the numbers

By news@duluthnewstribune.com

August 15, 2011 at 11:00 PM

Some findings from the study: "U.S. rural adults' consumption of fruits and vegetables: Who is consuming at least five servings daily?" from the Essentia Institute of Rural Health:

The study found only 11 states where the percentage of people who eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is greater in rural areas than in urban areas.

Only one of those states -- Hawaii -- is among the top 10 producers of fruits and vegetables.

Neither Minnesota nor Wisconsin is among the top 10 producers -- Wisconsin is 13th -- but each state fits the rural/urban pattern. In Minnesota, 19.53 percent of rural adults eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day compared with 22.70 percent in non-rural areas. It's a closer split in Wisconsin -- 20.04 percent in the country, 21.95 percent in the city. Nawal Lutfiyya, the study's author, said even when the numbers are relatively close they're still statistically significant because they involve extremely large samples.

Nationwide, 20.38 percent of rural adults and 23.07 of non-rural adults eat enough fruits and veggies.

Veggie consumption, by the numbers

Some findings from the study: "U.S. rural adults' consumption of fruits and vegetables: Who is consuming at least five servings daily?" from the Essentia Institute of Rural Health:...