Strengthening Local Food Systems and Accessing Nutritious FoodsPlan of Work

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Laurel County CES

Title:
Strengthening Local Food Systems and Accessing Nutritious Foods
MAP:
Local Food Systems and Nutrition
Agents Involved:
Sigmon, Whitson, Adkins, Williams, O'Bryan
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:
Local food continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets and institutions (including schools). However, there is a disconnection between the production, processing, marketing and distribution segments of the local food system, especially for small and minority farmers. With sales from Kentucky food products expected to increase from $14 million (2014) to $24 million in 2020, Extension has resources to educate agricultural producers in production, value added opportunities, business planning, and marketing strategies to expand the local food system for the demand. . County Extension Offices can play a pivotal role in helping food producers, entrepreneurs, buyers and consumers work toward more vibrant rural communities with strong local food systems. Stronger local food systems can help everyone eat a healthier diet while benefiting the local economy and communities. Extension nutrition education programs help families gain access to food and stretch food dollars; communities to decrease hunger, and local food assistance programs to educate recipients on healthy and safe food preparation methods.
Long-Term Outcomes:
• Increase in the number of vendors, variety of local food products, sales and/or profits at farmer’s markets, road side stands, or community supported agriculture
• Increase access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions
• Maintain or increase consumer confidence/ demand in local foods
• Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations
• Kentucky population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day
• Youth will be food secure when school is not in session

Intermediate Outcomes:
• Develop an Ag Plan using decision making tools ( i.e. cost efficiency)
• Create a budget and/or marketing plan
• Diversify the types and varieties of produce grow and sold
• Apply best management practices in marketing (i.e. pricing)
• Apply improved food preservation skills, food management skills, food safety, and healthy eating habits
• Number of people who access more local foods
• Number of people who plant, harvest, and preserve produce

Initial Outcomes:
• Youth and adults will learn to grow, prepare and preserve food
• Youth and adults will learn to incorporate unfamiliar foods or foods not currently eaten in a healthy diet
• Youth and adults increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food resource management
• Adults will receive GAP diplomas
• Increase attendance at the Farmers Market
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Learn to grow, prepare and preserve food
Indicator: number of families that gained knowledge about eating more healthy foods
Method: gardening and food preservation survey
Timeline: July - June

Intermediate Outcomes: Access more local foods
Indicator: the number of families reached that report eating more healthy foods
Method: Increase in sales and production
Timeline: July – June

Long-Term Outcome: The communities’ health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational leadership.
Indicator: Number of people who are involved in addressing significant community issues
Method: Number of local policy changes as a result of Extension programs
Timeline: July – June

Learning Opportunities:


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Youth Gardening Projects/clubs

Content or Curriculum: National Gardening Assoc.,4-H materials

Inputs: School system, Volunteers, County Agents

Date: Summer, Spring


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Food Preservation Projects

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Food Preservation publications/Fantastic Foods curriculum

Inputs: School System, Volunteers, County Agents, community youth

Date: July-August


Audience: Backpack Club Youth

Activity: Food Flip Classes

Content or curriculum: SNAP-ED and 4-H resources

Inputs: School System, Volunteers, Extension Agents

Date: September - May


Audience: Youth

Activity: 4-H Super Star Chef/Super Star Chef Goes to Farmer's Market

content or curriculum: Super Star Chef Goes to Farmer's Market

Inputs: School System, Volunteers, Extension Agents

Date: summer - spring


Audience: Youth

Activity:Youth Farmer’s Market Demonstrations

Content or curriculum: 4-H curriculum; SNAP-ED

Inputs: Farmers Market, Volunteers, Extension Agents

Date: summer- fall


Audience: Adults, Limited Resource Families

Activity: Food Preservation Programs

Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation Publications and Training

Inputs: Demonstration Kitchen, Volunteers, Extension Agents,

Date: May – September


Audience: Limited Resources Families, Adults

Activity: Plate it Up Kentucky Proud (food demonstrations and State Board member)

Content or Curriculum: Plate it UP

Inputs: Farmers Market, Volunteers, Extension Agents

Date: ongoing


Audience: Farmers Market Members

Activity: Farmer's Market Council

Content or Curriculum: Convene existing advisory groups and other key stakeholders to discuss and set priorities for developing a stronger local food system. Identify and implement policies to decrease hunger and increase food access.

Inputs: Volunteers, Extension Agents, local government officials, health department

Date: July- August, first meeting- then quarterly or as needed



Audience: General Public, Limited resource families

Activity: Farmer's Market Outreach

Content or curriculum: Cooking programs, Marketing, Increased Access (location, hours, EBT)

Inputs: Chefs, Extension Agents, Farmers, Volunteers, SNAP Assistance,

Date: April- October


Audience: Youth, Limited Resource Families

Activity: Gardening Projects

Content or Curriculum: Horticulture and School Garden Resources, partner with Faith-Based Organizations

Inputs: Volunteers, Faith based organizations, Local Schools, Extension Agents,

Date: April- October


Audience: Farmers

Activity: GAP Training

Content or curriculum: UK materials; Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Inputs: Extension Agents, Extension Office, Volunteers

Date: annually


Audience: Limited Resource Families, Work release

Activity: Community Gardens

Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists

Inputs: Church Garden, Work release, Extension Agents, Volunteers, Food Ministry

Date: ongoing


Audience: Adults and Youth

Gardeners Toolbox Workshop Series

Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists

Inputs: Community Gardens, volunteers, Extension Agents and Specialists,

Date: monthly


Audience: General Public

Southeast Kentucky Beekeepers Association

Content or curriculum: UK publications; Kentucky Department of Agriculture publications and specialists; KSU publications and specialists

Inputs: Volunteers, Extension Agents, KSU Agents, KDA, Extension office

Date: monthly March-October


Audience: General Public

Local Foods Catalog

Content or curriculum: promotion of local foods

Inputs: Volunteers, Extension Agents and staff, farmers

Date: ongoing


Audience: General Public

Gardening 101 Program

Content or curriculum: UK publications and resources

Inputs: community garden, local farmers, volunteers, Extension Agents and Staff, Specialists

April-August


Audience: General Public

Farm Tour Dinner

Content or curriculum: promoting local foods

Inputs: Farmers, Volunteers, City officials, Chefs, Extension Agents and staff

Date: September


Audience: General Public

Arts and Eats Program

Increase knowledge and participation in local Farmers Market

Inputs: City of London, Tourism, Volunteers, Farmers, Artisans, Cattlemans, local bands

Date September-October


Audience: General Public

2nd Saturday at the Market

Increase participation and knowledge of Farmers Market

Inputs: City of London, Tourism, Farmers, Artisans, Extension Agents and staff

Date May-September


Audience: General Public

Pruning and Grafting

Content or Curriculum: UK specialists and publications

Inputs: Extension Agents, Farmer, Volunteer, rootstock, Specialists

Date: February


Audience: General Public

Making at the Market

Increase knowledge and participation in local Farmer Market

Inputs: Farmers Market, Artisans, Volunteers, Extension Agents and staff,Farmers

Date June-September


Audience: Farmers Market Vendors

Farmers Market 101

Content and Curriculum: KDA, UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, KDA Staff, KSU staff, Extension office

Date February –April


Audience: General Public

Activity: Plant sales increase the availability of fruit

Content and Curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, Nourse nurseries, Southeast Farm Supplies, Extension Office

Date: April


Audience: Limited Resource Farmers

Small Farms Grant Workshop

Content and Curriculum: KSU and KCARD

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, KSU Staff, KCARD Staff, Extension Office

Date: February


Audience: Limited Resource Families

Activity: WIC Vouchers program

Content and Curriculum: UK publications, KDA Publications 

Inputs: Extension Agents, KDA personnel, Health Department, Farmers Market

Date: Summer






Success Stories

Farmers Market Events

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

~~The Laurel County Farmers Market is open three days a week from May till mid-October.  The market facility is located in the heart of downtown London.  The facility is an open shed design with attached restroom facilities, and a large stage on one end.  The market sits on London City property and was built buy contributions from the county, city, and the Laurel Co. Agricultural Development fund. The market voted to host several unique events during regular market times, in an ef

Full Story

Farmers Feast

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

~~The Laurel County Farmers Market, the City of London and the Laurel County Extension Office collaborated for the 2nd Annual Farmers Feast.  The Farmers Feast program entailed a dinner where all ingredients are locally sourced. The dinner was an exclusive ticketed event held at the farmers market with half the proceeds going to Gods Pantry. The tickets were $20 a person and 200 tickets were sold. The Laurel County Cattleman and ANR agent prepared a “trash can dinner”. The dinne

Full Story

Farmers Feast

Author: Victor Williams

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

~~The Laurel County Farmers Market, the City of London and the Laurel County Extension Office collaborated for the 2nd Annual Farmers Feast.  The Farmers Feast program entailed a dinner where all ingredients are locally sourced. The dinner was an exclusive ticketed event held at the farmers market with half the proceeds going to Gods Pantry. The tickets were $20 a person and 200 tickets were sold. The Laurel County Cattleman and ANR agent prepared a “trash can dinner”. The dinne

Full Story

Feeding Children through the Backpack Club

Author: Kimberly Whitson

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

According to statistics from the USDA, Kentucky ranks as the 14th highest state in the nation for the number of food insecure children under the age of 18. This would indicate that approximately 200,000 Kentucky children, at some point and time, do not have access to enough food for an active, healthy life or that the food in their homes is not nutritionally adequate for growing bodies. To address the need for Laurel County children to have food on the weekends, when school meals were not availa

Full Story

WIC Farmers Market Voucher Program

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Kentucky has an obesity rate of 34 % and a child poverty rate of 35%. Changing eating habits of children early on in life will have a positive effect on these numbers. The WIC Farmers Market Voucher program has been in existence for several years. The London-Laurel County Farmers Market participated in the program for the first two years, but delays in redeeming the vouchers resulted in the vendors’ decision not to continue to participate in the program. Though the redemptio

Full Story

Local Farmers Help to Combat Hunger

Author: Judith O'Bryan

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

The Laurel County Farmers Market, the City of London and the Laurel County Extension Office collaborated for the 2nd Annual Farmers Feast.  The Farmers Feast program entailed a dinner where all ingredients are locally sourced. Local farmers were highlighted by setting up sample tables and participants were encouraged to meet their local farmers.  Agriculture, Horticulture, and Family and Consumer Science Agents worked together to prepare a local dinner that fed 200 participants. The ev

Full Story
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