A Regional Approach to Community Engagement And Healthy Food Access in Underserved Communities Megan Jourdan, Erin Laird, Amber Mills Florida Department of Health in Manatee County Presented to the Manatee Board of County Commissioners
Methodology Community Based Participatory Research 2015 January- February Key Informant Interviews 2015 March- April Focus Groups
2015 May-June Photo-Voice Personal Narratives 2015 May- June
Door-to-door Survey 2015 June-July Cross-County Steering Committee 2015 July-ongoing
Results What did residents tell us?
In this community, there s not really stores, there are food stores, or whatever but it s just like going to a gas station.
When you re low income, it s hard to go to the grocery store and pick out a meal that s healthy and also cheap.
Themes Perceived Barriers Cost Availability Lack of knowledge Desired Solutions Places to grow food Centrally located, affordable, fresh market options Classes
Food desert residents perceive fruits and vegetables as being expensive.
What would make it easier to get fruits and vegetables? If fruits and vegetables were cheaper. Manatee Sarasota 73% said yes 69% said yes
Food desert residents perceive stores as being far away.
What would make it easier to get fruits and vegetables? If fruits and vegetables were sold closer to your home? 40% 47% Manatee Sarasota
Food desert residents want fresh, affordable options, close to their homes.
Respondents would shop at farm stands in their neighborhoods. 58% 76% Manatee Sarasota
What day(s) should the farm stand be open? Monday-Thursday 23% Friday, Saturday, Sunday 40% Any Day 33% Did Not Answer 4%
Food desert residents want places in their neighborhoods where they can grow their own food.
Respondents want to grow their own food. 53% Manatee County 48% Sarasota County
Where do you want to grow food? Would you like to grow food in a community garden? Yes 32% No 62% Maybe 4% Did not answer 2%
Where do you want to grow food? Would you like to grow food in your yard? Yes 84% No 12% Maybe 2% Did not answer 2%
Survey Results Vegetable Gardening 85% Seeds and materials 72% Tips for small yards 66% Info on gardening in Florida
Respondents would like community fruit trees in their neighborhoods. 60% Manatee County 55% Sarasota County
Food desert residents want educational opportunities.
Percent of Respondents Interested 33 35 36 37 38 41 42 53 The top 4 topics respondents expressed interest in:. Manatee Sarasota Vegetable Gardening Stretching Your Dollar Cooking Fruits & Veggies Healthy Eating & Nutrition Class Topics
Residents of Manatee are more likely to attend classes that: 60% 60% Are held in their neighborhood 40% 38% Are shorter than an hour 26% Provide Dinner Provide Childcare Provide Transportation
Photo-Voice Look at that, that s sad right there. That s what my fridge and cabinet always look like. I don t have a car, so I gotta walk to the store. I would go to a pantry, but I can t get there. I do have a lot of peanut butter. People are always giving me peanut butter. Sometimes I just eat it with a spoon for dinner.
Recorded personal narratives Understanding life in a food desert Craig s Story: https://youtu.be/grdcg1cmg1e Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuo3h3em6oy
Manasota Food Action Council
Current projects: Partnering with Manatee County Property Management, Manatee County Agriculture Extension and Volunteer Master Gardeners, Florida Native Plants Nursery, and Manatee Rare Fruit Tree Council on a number of projects: Develop a community garden at the health department Develop a fruit tree orchard Align education with communities that want classes Support home garden programming Supporting Geraldson Community Farm in development of a Mobile Market to serve food desert neighborhoods, via a $100,000 USDA grant
Thank you! Feel free to contact us at: Amber: (941) 748-0747x1605 Amber.Mills@flhealth.gov