Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kelly A. Coleman, MEM, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, 1 Sugarloaf St, South Deerfield, MA 01373, 413-665-7100, kelly@buylocalfood.com

Programs that link urban consumers and low-income residents to fresh, local food can contribute to healthier communities and better nutrition. In 2004-2005, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture partnered with businesses and senior and community organizations in Hampden County, MA to increase availability of locally produced food. Hampden County has a large underserved population with a high percentage of seniors and the highest poverty rate in the state (14.7%). To reach our long-term goals of improving nutrition and the regional agricultural economy we partnered with community, senior and other agriculture organizations. We matched farms with community organizations/businesses for weekly deliveries of farm “shares” for use in community kitchens and distribution to full-paying and subsidized shareholders. Year-end shareholder surveys found improvement in eating habits and a higher appreciation of local agriculture. Shareholder comments emphasized better nutrition and improved overall health due to increased consumption of fresh vegetables as benefits of the program. Observations and follow-up calls suggest that as shareholders and partner organizations become more involved, they are able to leverage resources for additional nutrition education and community-building activities. Discussion will focus on the challenges and successes of improving nutrition through food-based programs in the short and long-term. We found convenient access to fresh food was the most important factor in changing eating habits. This project's success increasing access to and acceptance of fresh, healthy, local foods by urban residents, suggests that access to local food can be an entry point for imparting public health messages that encourage better long-term nutrition.

Learning Objectives: