Fresh Produce Study: Americans Eat More Vegetables Than 5 Years Ago

More than 90 percent of Americans think equal access to fresh produce is very or somewhat important, according to a new survey by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

The foundation, which surveyed of 800 American adults, also found that three quarters of all Americans support doubling the value of SNAP benefits -- formerly known as food stamps -- at farmers' markets. A release included several other interesting figures as well:

81 percent strongly or partly agree that Washington, DC, needs to do more to increase access to locally produced fruits and vegetables;
86 percent strongly or partly agree that state and local officials should play a role in ensuring access to local, fresh food;
89 percent strongly or partly agree that the community needs to play a role in ensuring access to local, fresh food.

The Washington Post's Tim Carman spoke with the foundation's vice president for program strategy, Gail Christopher, who explained that the findings are "a wonderful sign of the increasing level of empathy" and an indication that “the health of others could have an impact on their lives as well.”

Interestingly, 70 percent of those surveyed said they had bought fresh produce from a farmers' market or stand in the past year, and more than 68 percent said they ate more whole grains, fruits and vegetables than they did five years ago.

The news comes as many groups across the country are working to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to so-called food deserts -- areas without easy access to nutritious dining options.

Earlier this month, HuffPost gave readers a look at the Mobile Market in Washington, D.C., a retrofitted school bus designed to function as a farmers' market on wheels. It accepts SNAP benefits and payment from other assistance programs. Other similar programs have been cropping up around the country as well.

Check out more interesting facts from the study in the infographic below.

Fresh Produce Poll