"To maintain a healthy diet, health professionals recommend eating at least two fruits and three vegetables every day, but few Oklahomans follow that guideline. America's Health Rankings reported that only 3.8% of Oklahoma residents consume the recommended amount of daily vegetable servings. Vermont, on the other hand, ranked first, with 12.9% of locals reporting they eat their daily dose of fruits and veggies."
"Oklahoma's varied climate and fertile soil are conducive to a variety of crops, but produce has never been a primary focus for farmers in the Great Plains. Wheat, corn, and soybeans have been more abundant in the state's farmlands, with cattle ranches leading the economy, but even those farms struggled from 1950 onward, with the farm population slowly declining. By the late '90s, the majority of the population earned a living elsewhere,"
Oklahoma ranks last in fruit and vegetable consumption in the U.S., with only 3.8% of residents eating the recommended daily vegetable servings. The state's official meal and culinary traditions emphasize fried and meat-heavy dishes, providing few fresh produce servings. Health guidelines recommend at least two fruits and three vegetables daily, met by far more residents in states like Vermont. Despite fertile soil and varied climate suitable for diverse crops, Oklahoma agriculture historically prioritized wheat, corn, soybeans, and cattle, with farm populations declining after 1950 and consolidation by large conglomerates. Cultural food preferences and agricultural focus contribute to low produce consumption.
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