Union County CES

Title:

Access Local Nutritious Food

MAP:

Health & Wellness

Agents Involved:

FCS Agent

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Situation:

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. Agents are pivotal in influencing policies, systems, and environments and in training consumers and producers to maximize local access to food products from farm to table.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Union Countians population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day

Union Countians improve food management skills and healthy eating habits

Youth will be food secure when school is not in session

People accessing emergency food sources will select from nutrient dense

Intermediate Outcomes:

Plant, harvest and preserve produce

Apply improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating habits

Initial Outcomes:

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

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Access more local foods

Indicator: Number of children that participate in gardening program and are served vegetables in local elementary schools

Method: School garden program

Timeline:School year 2023 - 2024

Intermediate Outcome: Access more local foods

Indicator: Number of families that begin gardening

Method: Survey

Timeline: Summers 2023 -2024

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Union County Elementary Schools

Project or Activity: Gardening Grant

Content or Curriculum: UK Publicaitons

Inputs: Union County School System, Union County Health Coalition

Date: Summers 2023 - 2024

Audience: Plate It Up

Project or Activity: AgExpo

Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up

Inputs: Green River Area FCS Agents

Date: January 2024

Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Food Preservation Program

Content or Curriculum: Food Preparation Publications

Inputs: Union County Garden Program

Date:Summer 2023 & 2024