Kentucky has the fifth highest adult obesity rate in the nation with an adult obesity rate of 33.2 percent. Increased consumption of unhealthy food is one of the factors. Families need healthy advice about ways to prepare fruits and vegetables.
Beginning in the Spring of 2014, the staff at the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in Christian County developed a farmer’s market buyers guide to market Extension, provide healthy eating tips, and to feature “Plate It Up!” recipes. Plate It Up! is a joint program between the Cooperative Extension Service, Human Environmental Sciences and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The program promotes locally grown commodities and encourages consumers to buy locally. It also has the goal of creating a better, healthier lifestyle and reducing obesity. Agents and assistants prepare Plate It Up! recipes weekly and distribute samples as well as healthy eating information at the Downtown Hopkinsville Farmers Market.
In 2016 market season, over the 20-week focus on Plate It Up, approximately 1,500 people visited the Extension booth and tasted fresh produce cooked using the Kentucky Proud “Plate It Up!” recipes. Many of those of sampled recipes indicated they were using these recipes at home. One farmer’s market patron said she comes to taste the recipe and then buys products to make it at home that evening.
Approximately 75 people participate in the recipe tastings each week and more than 1,000 copies of the buyer’s guide were distributed to market patrons, the housing authority, the county fair, health fairs, civic groups, the women’s shelter and the senior citizens center. Additionally, the market’s Facebook page promotes the recipe and the tasting event each week to over 750 followers.