Oral

Connecting schools, communities and businesses directly with farmers and garden based education can increase availability and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Lower prices, procurement policies, taste testing and public/private partnerships provide incentives and opportunities to increase demand and intake of fresh, local produce. Presenters will discuss results from an evaluation of farm-to-school programs highlighting student attitudes and behaviors, findings to determine if farmers' markets have lower prices than supermarkets and evidence of public support for farm-to-school policies. Partnerships and business programs to promote innovations in improving or enhancing practices to provide locally grown products will be presented.

Session Objectives: 1)Explain established approaches to connecting locally grown fruits and vegetables with schools, communities and businesses 2)Describe methods used to evaluate effectiveness of programs and interventions aimed at increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables through farm or garden based initiatives 3)Discuss promising policies for connecting farmers, businesses and consumers and the public support for policies evident in survey research

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)