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:
4-H Leadership 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: spring, summer


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

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

Farmers Feast

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


Audience:  Limited Resource Seniors

Activity:  Senior Voucher Program

Content and Curriculum:  UK Publications, KDA Publications

Inputs:  Extension Agents, KDA personnel, Famers Market

Date:  Summer






Success Stories

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

According to the 2018 census conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, Laurel County’s population now exceeds 60,000 individuals.  The census also revealed that Laurel County has a poverty rate of 23.2%, which is higher than Kentucky’s overall poverty rate of 18.2%.  Additionally, studies conducted by Feeding America indicated that 15.9% of Laurel County residents are food insecure, with 11.7% of the population being over age 65 and living below the poverty rate.  To addres

Full Story

Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program

Author: Judith O'Bryan

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

According to the 2018 census conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, Laurel County’s population now exceeds 60,000 individuals.  The census also revealed that Laurel County has a poverty rate of 23.2%, which is higher than Kentucky’s overall poverty rate of 18.2%.  Additionally, studies conducted by Feeding America indicated that 15.9% of Laurel County residents are food insecure, with 11.7% of the population being over age 65 and living below the poverty rate.  To addres

Full Story

East Kentucky Plant Sales

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

East KY Plant SalesEastern Kentucky has very few resources for locally grown fruit plants at a reasonable price.  The Extension Agents of 22 counties and Wise County Virginia come together to each year to do a bulk order of strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, asparagus and candy onion transplants.   The combination of that many orders makes it possible for deep discounts to the customer.   For example if a customer only wants 50 strawberry plant and orders directly

Full Story

To-Go-Bags

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

In March of 2020 Kentucky declared a state of emergency because of a global pandemic and we were told to shelter at home.  Due to this order traditional Extension programming had to be put on hold, but the need for research based information was greater than ever.  In addition to answering phone calls and communicating through social media, the Laurel County Cooperative Extension offered 10 programs in To-Go Bags.  Families were offered a different bag and topic each week.  T

Full Story

Extension Meets a Need During Coronavirus

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

Extension Meets a Need During CoronavirusAs coronavirus emerged into our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight.  Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye.  Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food, and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before.   After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed toge

Full Story

Extension Meets a Need During Coronavirus

Author: Victor Williams

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

Extension Meets a Need During CoronavirusAs coronavirus emerged into our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight.  Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye.  Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food, and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before.   After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed toge

Full Story

Extension Meets a Need During Coronavirus

Author: Judith O'Bryan

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

As coronavirus emerged into our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight.  Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye.  Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food, and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before.   After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed together with other agencies in the county to

Full Story

Extension Meets a Need During Coronavirus

Author: William Adkins

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

As coronavirus emerged in our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight.  Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye.  Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before.   After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed together with other agencies in the county to of

Full Story
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