A Rural Small Food Store Pilot Intervention Creates Trends Toward Improved Healthy Food Availability

The Maryland Healthy Stores pilot-study tested the feasibility of a small food store intervention in rural Maryland. Eight small stores were randomized to receive a 4-month intervention to increase healthy food availability (n = 4) or serve as comparison stores (n = 4). Changes in stocking of 12 healthier items promoted in the intervention were measured pre-intervention, postintervention, and 6 months postintervention. Storeowner’s acceptability of the changes were measured pre- and postintervention. Results demonstrated the following: (1) trends toward increased healthier food availability in this rural setting through observable increases in intervention stores stocking the promoted foods and (2) in intervention storeowners’ perceived ability to sell healthier items.