Consistent with other studies, self-efficacy, social norms, and gardening skills helped change student knowledge about and intent to eat vegetables. And, importantly, demonstrated commitment by school personnel can amplify changes in gardening skills, especially in lower income communities. Childhood obesity disproportionately affects those with fewer economic resources. In this study, school gardening programs in inner-city schools increased students' life skills, knowledge of and confidence in their ability to make healthy choices surrounding fresh produce. Gardens can provide alternative access to fresh produce, especially in urban areas that may lack full-service grocery stores. Locating gardens on school grounds may provide students, teachers, and communities with connections to produce and offer opportunities for learning new skills, developing new preferences, and changing social norms. However, school garden programs appear to provide less effect in communities where gardens and grocery stores are more readily available and households have more resources and choices available to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]