Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing Local Food Systems
Accessing Nutritious Foods
Amanda Dame, David Fourqurean
Local Food Systems
Farmer's Markets
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
This issue was identified as a high priority in McLean County by all program areas, councils and county extension council. With only three local grocery stores in McLean County many residents lack the availability of purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, in McLean County 47.3% of residents are working full time, however still lives below the poverty (American Community Survey). As the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables increase it will become difficult to purchase healthier foods. Extension programs focusing on accessing nutritious foods will help McLean County residents 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. Agents, paraprofessionals and volunteers are pivotal in training consumers and producers to maximize production or and access to food products from farm to table.
Increase number of McLean County resident’s accurately growing and purchasing locally grown food.
McLean County 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.
McLean Countians improve food management skills and healthy eating habits.
Apply skills of food resource management, food safety, and food preparation to afford healthy, nutritious food choices.
2% of participants will practice healthy eating choices.
Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food.
Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to Ag and food systems.
Individuals will plan their gardening spaces and properly prepare the sites.
Access more local foods
Plant, harvest, and preserve produce.
Apply improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating habits.
Increase access to fruits and vegetables.
McLean County residents will become more aware of benefits of producing and purchasing local foods.
Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of foods.
Youth will gain and understanding of health and sustainable food systems.
Understand the importance of sustainable local agriculture to individual health and financial well-being.
Learn to grow, prepare and preserve food.
Learn to incorporate unfamiliar foods or foods not currently eaten into a healthy diet.
New mothers and those who support them increase knowledge about the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding.
Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food resource management.
Outcomes: Initial
Indicator: Increase in number of local venders, increase in the variety of foods and sales at the farmers market.
Method: Evaluations, group discussions, observation.
Timeline: 6 months to 1 year
Outcome: Initial
Indicator: Participations increased knowledge in growing, preparing, and preserving food.
Method: Evaluations, group discussions, observation.
Timeline: 6 months to 1 year
Outcome: Initial
Indicator: Participants increased knowledge on ways to incorporate unfamiliar foods or foods not currently eaten in their diet.
Method: Evaluations, group discussions, observation.
Timeline: 6 months to 1 year
Outcome: Initial
Indicator: Participants increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety, and food resource management.
Method: Evaluations, group discussions, observation.
Timeline: 6 months to 1 year
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Increase in numbers of program participants reporting increased awareness of developing local food systems.
Method: Pre/Post Evaluation, Verbal Discussion and Focus Groups
Timeline: 6 months to 1 year
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals demonstrate gardening skills learned from Extension Programs.
Indicator: Increase in number of individuals demonstrating gardening skills.
Method: Pre/Post Evaulation, Visual Evaulation, Self-Reporting, On-site Visits
Timeline: 1 to 2 years
Outcome: Intermediate
Indicator: Individuals will practice healthy eating choices.
Methods: Pre/post evaluations, self-reporting, observation, testimonials
Timeline: 1 to 2 years
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals apply improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety, and healthy eating.
Indicator: Increase in number of McLean County citizens improving food prep skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating.
Method: Self-reporting, Survey and certification and re-certification of Homebased Microprocessing.
Timeline: 1 to 2 years
Long Term Outcome: Increase fruit & vegetable consumption.
Indicator: McLean County citizens will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day.
Method: Survey, personal interview
Timeline: 3- 4 years
Long Term Outcome:
Indicator: An increase of farmers market vendors and market customer. Also, an increase in amount of sales at farmer’s marker, road side stands, markets, number of local stores and restaurants goods produced by local producers.
Method: Observation, Written Survey
Timeline:2-4 Years
Long Term Outcomes:
Indicator: An increase in the number of individuals who improve food management skills and healthy eating habits.
Methods: observation, written survey, personal interviews, county statistics.
Time: 2-4 years
Audience: McLean County residents
Project or Activity: Plate it Up, Kentucky Proud
Content or Curriculum: Plate it Up recipes,
Inputs: All McLean County Extension Agent, volunteers, and farmers market vendors.
Date: May- August 2018
Audience: Preschool/ Head start
Project or Activity: LEAP
Content or Curriculum: LEAP Curriculum
Inputs: CES publications, community volunteers, NEP, Family Resource
Center, Community Education
Date: September through April 2018
Audience: Limited Income Families
Project or Activity: Turkey Tasting
Content or Curriculum: USDA, NEP, UK publications, eXtension
Inputs: UK publications, Community Partners, Schools, Migrant Education
Date: November 2019
Audience: Home Owners, Gardeners, Farmers Market Vendors
Project or Activity: Horticulture-related Extension Programming
Content or Curriculum: Home Fruit/Vegetable Production, Commercial Fruit/Vegetable Production, Starting Your Own Transplants, IPM,
Inputs: Agents, Specialist, Extension Publications, KDA, On-Farm Trials/Research
Date: Ongoing
Author: John Fourqurean
Major Program: Local Food Systems
The McLean County Cooperative Extension Service hosted a Farm to Fork Dinner to recognize and promote the importance of locally grown food. Farm to Fork is a food system in which food production, processing, distribution, and consumption are integrated to enhance the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of a particular place. The Cooperative Extension Service worked alongside of the local Farmers Market and other vendors as well as other volunteers to raise money for a local ch
Author: Amanda Dame
Major Program: Local Food System Development and Mapping
The McLean County Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent, Family and Consumer Science Agent and McLean County Farmers' Market Vendors hosted a Farm to Fork Dinner to recognize and promote the importance of locally grown food. Farm to Fork is a food system in which food production, processing, distribution, and consumption are integrated to enhance the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of a particular place. The Cooperative Extension Service worked alongside of the loca
