Eat Local Foods Coalition: Connecting Nutritionists and Farmers

Eat Local Foods Coalition: Connecting Nutritionists and Farmers

Summary

This project is intended to help nutritionists understand the possibilities that come from helping local farmers to improve the quality and variety of nutrition information they provide to local consumers. Nutritionists, particularly Extension nutritionists, will receive training on ways to better connect farmers with existing nutrition programs and educational materials. Extension educators whose focus is working with farmers will also be invited to participate, with the complementary goal of getting farmers to use more nutrition information in their displays and marketing materials, particularly at farmers’ markets.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1) Of the 46 Cooperative Extension nutrition staff, 23 will attend the proposed workshop and 15 will pass on information gleaned from the workshop to their clients, who, in turn, will integrate the information into their daily lives. This performance target addresses the issue of Northeast agriculture “providing healthful products to its customers.”

2) Of the 32 Cooperative Extension agricultural staff, at least 10 will attend the proposed workshop and 5 will pass ideas gleaned from the workshop to their farmer-clients, who, in turn, will improve their farming enterprises, by providing more nutrition information and recipes to consumers. This performance target addresses the issue of Northeast agriculture being conducted “by farmers hav[ing] a positive influence on their communities.”

Accomplishments/Milestones

The milestones for this project are all integrated into participation in the workshop, which is now set for spring of 2005. Progress toward the milestones are:

Commitment from Lavon Bartel, Director of University of Maine Cooperative Extension, to encourage participation.

Pending for spring 2005. Initial date of fall 2004 postponed to accommodate keynote speaker, Jennifer Wilkins of Cornell.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

None to date. Outcomes will be assessed when the project is complete.

Collaborators: