Impact of Providing Healthy Food Access and Nutrition Education Through Food Hubs

Abstract

ObjectiveTo increase access to New York farm products by Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in New York City.Study Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionCornell University Cooperative Extension New York City (CUCE-NYC) started the Food Hubs program in summer/fall 2012 as a pilot project and expended in all five boroughs of NYC in summer/fall 2013. Food Hubs create distribution and networking locations for FBO to receive fresher, healthier, and flavorful produce from NY farmers at reasonable prices. Each Hub creates a network with 6-8 additional churches. The Hub church collects the food orders, negotiates with the producers on price and delivery and organizes the volunteers every week to unload and distribute through the network. CUCE-NYC provides instruction and support to the Hub churches and assists the Hub administrators in scheduling and managing deliveries. All participating churches receive free Food Hub training and nutrition education by CUCE-NYC.Outcome, Measures and AnalysisDuring summer/fall 2013, a total of 39 FBO across NYC participated in seven Food Hubs, which purchased thousands of pounds of fresh produce from NYS farmers on a weekly basis. The purchasing volume averages $700-$1,000 per Hub per week.ResultsSuccessfully completed Food Hub training to 65 Faith-based leaders and community members. Nutrition education through cooking demonstration at food hubs reached over five thousand individual from the resource limited communities. Food Hub leaders and members reported they are very satisfied with fresh produce purchased direct from NY farmers and price.Conclusions and ImplicationsNYC residents are becoming aware of the nutritional value of fresh produce. Many Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations are signed up to participate in the Food Hubs program 2014.FundingCornell University Cooperative Extension New York City ObjectiveTo increase access to New York farm products by Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in New York City. To increase access to New York farm products by Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in New York City. Study Design, Setting, Participants, and InterventionCornell University Cooperative Extension New York City (CUCE-NYC) started the Food Hubs program in summer/fall 2012 as a pilot project and expended in all five boroughs of NYC in summer/fall 2013. Food Hubs create distribution and networking locations for FBO to receive fresher, healthier, and flavorful produce from NY farmers at reasonable prices. Each Hub creates a network with 6-8 additional churches. The Hub church collects the food orders, negotiates with the producers on price and delivery and organizes the volunteers every week to unload and distribute through the network. CUCE-NYC provides instruction and support to the Hub churches and assists the Hub administrators in scheduling and managing deliveries. All participating churches receive free Food Hub training and nutrition education by CUCE-NYC. Cornell University Cooperative Extension New York City (CUCE-NYC) started the Food Hubs program in summer/fall 2012 as a pilot project and expended in all five boroughs of NYC in summer/fall 2013. Food Hubs create distribution and networking locations for FBO to receive fresher, healthier, and flavorful produce from NY farmers at reasonable prices. Each Hub creates a network with 6-8 additional churches. The Hub church collects the food orders, negotiates with the producers on price and delivery and organizes the volunteers every week to unload and distribute through the network. CUCE-NYC provides instruction and support to the Hub churches and assists the Hub administrators in scheduling and managing deliveries. All participating churches receive free Food Hub training and nutrition education by CUCE-NYC. Outcome, Measures and AnalysisDuring summer/fall 2013, a total of 39 FBO across NYC participated in seven Food Hubs, which purchased thousands of pounds of fresh produce from NYS farmers on a weekly basis. The purchasing volume averages $700-$1,000 per Hub per week. During summer/fall 2013, a total of 39 FBO across NYC participated in seven Food Hubs, which purchased thousands of pounds of fresh produce from NYS farmers on a weekly basis. The purchasing volume averages $700-$1,000 per Hub per week. ResultsSuccessfully completed Food Hub training to 65 Faith-based leaders and community members. Nutrition education through cooking demonstration at food hubs reached over five thousand individual from the resource limited communities. Food Hub leaders and members reported they are very satisfied with fresh produce purchased direct from NY farmers and price. Successfully completed Food Hub training to 65 Faith-based leaders and community members. Nutrition education through cooking demonstration at food hubs reached over five thousand individual from the resource limited communities. Food Hub leaders and members reported they are very satisfied with fresh produce purchased direct from NY farmers and price. Conclusions and ImplicationsNYC residents are becoming aware of the nutritional value of fresh produce. Many Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations are signed up to participate in the Food Hubs program 2014. NYC residents are becoming aware of the nutritional value of fresh produce. Many Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations are signed up to participate in the Food Hubs program 2014.