Author: Julia Wilson
Planning Unit: Hart County CES
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Plan of Work: Nutrition and Food Systems
Outcome: Initial Outcome
In 2018, an estimated 17.4% of Edmonson County residents lived in poverty, and an estimated 22.1% were children younger than 18. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is a concern for many Edmonson County Families. The FCS Agent partnered with the Farmer's Market, and Edmonson County Head Start to bring a Farmer's Market to Edmonson County Head Start students enrolled in their summer program in July of 2021 and again in October of 2021
The FCS Agent had been working with Head Start and youth had learned about gardens and growing their own seeds. In July of 2021 the FCS taught the children about Farmer's Market and gave each child voucher to spend at the market. A member of the Farmer's Market set up at head start for children to use their vouchers. Each child was able to shop at the market and take home fresh fruit or vegetables along with Plate it Up and SNAP recipes to go along with their produce. Follow up surveys showed 100% of the children tried the produce that they had purchased and 100% of the families reported eating the produce fresh or in a recipe.
In October of 2021 the FCS Agent again worked with Head Start and the Farmer's Market to bring a pumpkin patch to Head Start. Due to covid policies they could not take a field trip. The FCS Agent read them a book about the growing cycle of a pumpkin and then youth were able to pick a pumpkin from the "pumpkin patch" in the gym. Parent packets were sent home with information and Plate it Up recipes on how to cook a fresh pumpkin. One pumpkin was placed outside so children could watch for the seeds to sprout in the spring.
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