In Allen County the obesity rates are impacted by poor eating habits regarding eating green vegetables and meeting recommended myplate guidelines. Families had limited fresh locally grown produce. Working with my county extension agent, a partnership was formed with the Allen County Health Dept. and Need More Acres Farm to provide a salad market basket to 90 families. Grant funded of 1500.00 provided each family with seven locally grown varieties of dark salad greens, fresh asparagus, cherry tomatoes and bunch of green onions. 9 demonstrations were conducted showing how to grill or bake fresh asparagus as well as how to choose different varieties of salad green beyond ice berg lettuce and easy vinaigrette dressing was demonstrated as a more cost effective choice. Families sampled the green salad and were given a market basket to take home to use in families meals

 Prior to the program 79 of the 89 participants had tried asparagus with only 57 indicating that they like the vegetable. Only 66 had purchased asparagus. The majority of the participants used ice berg lettuce as primary salad green. After the program survey was completed. 87 participants like the spring green salad and 89 increased their knowledge of different varieties of salad greens and the nutritive value. 89 increased knowledge regarding the nutritive value in asparagus. 87 indicated they would purchase fresh asparagus for family meals. After 30 days, 89 participants received direct survey questions and phone interviews. All 87 participants had prepared the spring harvest salad for their families using the market basket vegetables. 87 participants indicated family members liked the salad. 67 had used the grilled technique to prepare the asparagus, with an additional 20 baking it or bowing it in a skillet. 87 participants indicated that they would purchase more asparagus and dark salad greens for family meals