NEW YORK – July 4th is the day for the annual Coney Island hotdog gobbling contest, but elsewhere, as part of the city-wide effort to fight the obesity epidemic, New York City is increasing efforts to improve access to healthy eating. 

The percentage of adults who ate no fruits or vegetables in the previous day fell from 14 percent in 2004 to 12 percent in 2010, but New Yorkers in low-income communities still report eating fruits and vegetables less frequently than those in high-income neighborhoods. To make the healthy choice the easy choice, the city’s Health Bucks coupons – good for $2 of fresh fruits and vegetables at  farmers markets – will for the first time be accepted at all 138 farmers markets, an increase of more than 100 percent from last year’s 65.

Overall, this is expected to amount to more than $350,000 in free fruits and vegetables for low-income New Yorkers this season. Additionally, Stellar Farmers Markets, a nutrition education program at farmers markets that provides food stamp-eligible New Yorkers with the knowledge, skills and resources for a healthier diet, will be at 18 markets this year.

“Eating more produce is an easy – and delicious – way to replace junk calories with nutritious, healthy fruits and vegetables.” said Mayor Bloomberg.

New Yorkers can find the farmers market closest to them by typing in their street address at www.nyc.gov.