Food Box Research Articles

From Root to Seed: Unearthing the Potential of Carrot Processing and Comprehensive Utilization

ABSTRACTCarrots, a globally cultivated root vegetable crop, are renowned for their nutritional and functional properties. However, the deep utilization and development of carrots and their derived products are limited in numerous countries, with a particular deficiency in advanced deep‐processing and transformation technologies. Consequently, the value of carrot products is diminished and resources are wasted. This review explores the nutritional value and characteristics of different carrot varieties, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of carrot product processing. These products include primary processed products such as minimally processed carrots, dried carrots, pickles, preserves, fruit purees, yoghurt, juice, and essential oils, as well as processed by‐products including functional phytochemical extractions such as carotenoids, polyphenols, dietary fibers, active peptides, and glycoproteins. This review also covers other by‐products, including feeds, fast food boxes, and bioethanol production. Furthermore, cutting‐edge technologies related to carrot processing are discussed. The ultimate goal of this review is to provide researchers and practitioners with an in‐depth understanding of the present status of carrot production.

Fresh Takes!! the Impact of Receiving Fresh Food Boxes on the Health and Well-being of Individuals living With Diabetes and Prediabetes in Under-resourced Communities in the South Bronx

Fresh Takes!! the Impact of Receiving Fresh Food Boxes on the Health and Well-being of Individuals living With Diabetes and Prediabetes in Under-resourced Communities in the South Bronx

Abstract A127: Enhancing partnerships to address cancer screening disparities: community engagement strategies in a colorectal cancer screening navigation trial

Abstract Intro While researchers are expected to address study participants’ social determinants of health (SDOH), little to no empirical work is dedicated to the science of how to advance partnerships to redress health disparities. The aims of the study are to describe engagement methods to recruit community based organizations (CBOs) in a clinical trial designed to test the navigation of patients through colorectal cancer (CRC) screening while also creating linkages to help address patients’ SDOH. Methods Federally qualified health center (FQHC) staff invited CBO representatives to participate in the trial’s formative assessment components, food box provision, and/or delivery of CRC screening education. This engagement relied on relationships built through the team’s facilitation of a community coalition- a network that already existed in the FQHC. Study records were reviewed to enumerate and tally engagement approaches over the course of the study’s first 2 years. Results Seven CBOs provided a letter with the grant’s submission: 4 CBOs expressed interest in participating in an advisory board; 2 CBOs committed to providing a food box to patients identified with food insecurity; and 1 CBO committed to delivering community CRC screening education. Of the 7 CBOs, 6 completed a key informant interview; 2 provided zip-code level expertise to define study neighborhoods; and 2 developed formal agreements to provide food boxes to intervention participants. There was a change in leadership with 4 of the 7 CBOs, which likely explains the missing interview. Of the 2 partners that committed to food box provision, at the time of implementation- 1 of these no longer had a food pantry function as the CBO had taken this role on during the COVID pandemic’s peak. A neighboring site, however, continues to provide this service and has stepped in to provide food boxes for the study. Similarly, the CBO that had committed to providing community CRC education no longer has capacity to do so and a new partner was engaged to deliver this health education. At the end of grant year 1, to identify additional CBOs that could supply food boxes in other study neighborhoods, staff emailed 2 CBOs that were recommended during interviews, however, we received no response. Half-way through grant year 2, staff reengaged the dedicated CBO engagement team and requested additional e-introduction to new CBO partners that could address patients’ SDOH in these other study neighborhoods. Six CBOs have been approached with 1 interview completed to date. One of these year 2 CBOs provided zip-code level expertise to the study’s analytical team while another CBO is developing a formal agreement to provide food boxes in the other study areas. Conclusions Having a group dedicated to CBO engagement has allowed the research team to conduct outreach and partner with CBOs to co-deliver the intervention to address patients’ SDOH. Additional work is needed to consider the transitions in CBOs which impact initial commitments and timeline in order to anticipate and address these challenges early in a study. Citation Format: Anne Escaron, Joanna Garcia, Adriana Aranda, Jacqueline Macias-Sandoval, Dina Cruz Quintanilla, Crystal Gomez, Elva Arredondo, Gloria Coronado. Enhancing partnerships to address cancer screening disparities: community engagement strategies in a colorectal cancer screening navigation trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A127.

The Re-Emergence of Food Security in the Western World: Short Supply Chains in Portuguese Territorial Contexts

In the context of growing concerns surrounding food security and sustainability, this paper examines the emergence of short food supply chains (SFSCs) as alternative food systems. Focusing on box schemes in Portugal, the study investigates the socioeconomic factors influencing the presence of SFSC actors, utilizing a quantitative approach. Drawing on data from 420 producers offering food boxes and secondary data on municipality-level variables, the analysis reveals nuanced relationships between factors such as average income, urbanization, education levels, gender composition, and the proliferation of SFSCs. Notably, the study uncovers differential patterns in the determinants of SFSC presence between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, highlighting the significance of territorial contexts. The findings contribute empirical insights to the evolving literature on SFSCs, informing strategies for fostering resilient and equitable food systems in diverse geographic settings.

H2S gas sensing based on CuNi MOFs derivative with TiO2 quantum dot decoration applied for meat freshness detection

As food safety issues have been widely revealed and exposed, the pursuit of food for people has shifted from food and clothing to fresh and healthy. Currently, there are many detection systems for detecting meat freshness on the market. However, most of the problems still exist are that they cannot be monitored in real time, cannot guarantee traceless monitoring, and the cost is high. To solve these problems, this work has built a portable meat freshness detection system based on copper oxide (CuO)/nickel oxide (NiO) doped titanium oxide (TiO2) quantum dot composites and added real-time monitoring and remote monitoring and finally packaged it into an intelligent food box. Real-time monitoring of the freshness of meat can be carried out in a specific range regardless of the space. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has always been an essential indicator of meat decay. Therefore, in this paper, an H2S gas sensor based on CuO/NiO doped TiO2 quantum dot composites material is designed and fabricated, which can effectively and quickly identify H2S. The gas sensor exhibits excellent gas sensing characteristics for H2S with a detection limit of 100 parts per billion (ppb) and has excellent selectivity and repeatability, which because of the presence of p-p type heterojunctions in CuO/NiO. In addition, the feasibility of the system and material for analyzing the meat deterioration process is demonstrated through the test of different meat samples. It is firmly believed that this new type of sensor mentioned in this paper can make contribution to food quality monitoring.

Low-carbohydrate diet in children and young people with type 1 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial with cross-over design

AimsWe investigated whether a short period of tightly controlled low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) leads to higher time in range without increasing the associated risks in children and young people with diabetes (CYPwD). MethodsThirty-five (CYPwD) were recruited into this randomized controlled cross-over study (20 female; 20 CSII; age 14.5 ± 2.9 years; HbA1c 48.9 ± 9.4 mmol/mol). The interventions were five and five weeks of ready-made food box deliveries of isocaloric diets in random order: either LCD (94.5 ± 4.7 g/day) or recommended carbohydrate diet (RCD) (191 ± 19.2 g/day). The outcomes were continuous glucose monitoring parameters, anthropometric, laboratory and quality of life (QoL) data. ResultsTime in range was significantly higher in the LCD than in the RCD period (77.1 % vs. 73.8 %, P=0.008). Times in hyperglycemia and average glycaemia were significantly lower in the LCD. There was no difference between the diets in time in hypoglycemia or glycemic variability. The subjects’ body weight and BMI were significantly lower during the LCD. There was no significant difference in the LDL-cholesterol levels. No significant differences were observed in the self-assessed QoL. ConclusionsShort-term LCD led to an improvement of glycemic parameters without increasing time in hypoglycemia, disturbing the lipid profile or negatively affecting the quality of life of CYPwD.

Pilot study of a heart-healthy food box intervention for Native Americans with uncontrolled hypertension: methods and results from the Chickasaw Healthy Eating Environments Research Study.

We sought to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a culturally tailored food box intervention for improving blood pressure (BP), food security and Body Mass Index (BMI) among Chickasaw Nation adults with uncontrolled hypertension. As part of the Chickasaw Healthy Eating Environments Research Study (CHEERS), we administered a group randomized pilot study in four tribal communities (two intervention, two control). Participants in the intervention communities received six heart-healthy food boxes, culturally tailored to traditional Chickasaw diet and current food context. Outcomes were measured over 6 months. We enrolled 262 participants, and 204 with complete data on key variables were included in the analysis. The food boxes were very popular, and we achieved high retention for follow-up data collection. Intervention community participants had 2.6 mmHg lower mean systolic BP and improved diet quality and BMI compared with control participants, although, as expected for a pilot study, the differences were not statistically significant. The culturally tailored diet intervention and randomized trial study design were acceptable and feasible for Chickasaw Nation adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Our findings support the value of tribal-food bank partnerships as a potential approach for reducing food insecurity and hypertension-related disparities in Native American communities.

Health-Related Quality of Life during 26-Week Intervention with the New Nordic Renal Diet.

The New Nordic Renal Diet (NNRD) is a whole-food approach, tailored to meet recommended guidelines in patients with moderate chronic kidney disease (stage 3b-4). The NNRD improved various metabolic and physiological endpoints during a 26-week randomized controlled study. Here, we examined the effect of dietary intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Sixty participants were recruited (NNRD group n = 30, control group n = 30) and 58 completed the study. During the intervention, the NNRD group received food boxes, and recipes once a week. The control group continued their habitual diet. HRQoL was examined at baseline and at the end of the intervention using the validated EuroQol-5D-5L, including a 5-point scale Likert questionnaire at the end of the intervention. Assessed by the EuroQol-5D-5L questionnaire, the NNRD group experienced a reduction in pain/discomfort during the intervention by 26% [-0.44 points (95% CI; -0.73, -0.16)], compared with no change in the control group [0.25 points (95% CI; -0.02, 0.53)] and a between-group difference of -0.70 points (95% CI; -1.03, -0.37, p < 0.001). A larger decrease of body fat mass was associated with a larger decrease in pain/discomfort (p = 0.014). In addition, the NNRD group reported an overall improvement in conducting usual daily activities by 23% [-0.30-point (95% CI; -0.50, -0.11)], while no change was seen in the control group [-0.02 points (95% CI; -0.21, 0.17)], with a between-group difference -0.28 points (95% CI; -0.51, -0.06, p = 0.014). A larger decrease in 24 h urine phosphorus excretion, used as a marker of compliance, was associated with a larger improvement in conducting usual daily activities (p = 0.036). The NNRD group had a clinically relevant improvement in various HRQoL outcomes.

Food prescribing in Canada: evidence, critiques and opportunities.

There is growing interest in food prescriptions, which leverage health care settings to provide patients access to healthy foods through vouchers or food boxes. In this commentary, we draw on our experiences and interest in food prescribing to provide a summary of the current evidence on this intervention model and critically assess its limitations and opportunities. Food insecurity is an important determinant of health and is associated with compromised dietary adequacy, higher rates of chronic diseases, and higher health service utilization and costs. Aligning with recent discourse on social prescribing and "food is medicine" approaches, food prescribing can empower health care providers to link patients with supports to improve food access and limit barriers to healthy diets. Food prescribing has been shown to improve fruit and vegetable intake and household food insecurity, although impacts on health outcomes are inconclusive. Research on food prescribing in the Canadian context is limited and there is a need to establish evidence of effectiveness and best practices. As food prescribing continues to gain traction in Canada, there is a need to assess the effectiveness, cost-efficiency, limitations and potential paternalism of this intervention model. Further, it is necessary to assess how food prescribing fits into broader social welfare systems that aim to address the underlying determinants of food insecurity.

Campus Food Initiatives: Mitigating Student Food Insecurity

With an increasing cost of living in Canada, more people are considered food insecure, and this can have a detrimental impact on Canadian University students (Dahal et al., 2023). Food insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. University students face greater food insecurity than the general population due to financial constraints and accessibility (Sing, 2022). This study sought to explore student’s knowledge, need, and use of food initiatives on campus (aimed at mitigating food insecurity) through the use of a questionnaire. The questionnaire determined that 61% of students are not always able to access affordable and nutritious food. Regarding food insecurity, students said that they never (39%), seldom (21%), sometimes (30%), often (9%), and always (1%) experience it. The University of Lethbridge has three food initiatives in place to combat food insecurity: the food bank, the food pantries, and the fresh food box. 27% of students in this study use the three mentioned food initiatives, breaking down into 9% using the food bank, 14% using the food pantry, and 4% using the fresh food box. This research could be used to help inform the University of Lethbridge’s levels of food insecurity in the student population as well as which food initiatives to implement based on students’ self-identified needs.

Generation of Eroded Nanoplastics from Domestic Wastes and Their Impact on Macrophage Cell Viability and Gene Expression.

This study reports an innovative approach for producing nanoplastics (NP) from various types of domestic waste plastics without the use of chemicals. The plastic materials used included water bottles, styrofoam plates, milk bottles, centrifuge tubes, to-go food boxes, and plastic bags, comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and Poly (Ethylene-co-Methacrylic Acid) (PEMA). The chemical composition of these plastics was confirmed using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and they were found to have irregular shapes. The resulting NP particles ranged from 50 to 400 nm in size and demonstrated relative stability when suspended in water. To assess their impact, the study investigated the effects of these NP particulates on cell viability and the expression of genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress using a macrophage cell line. The findings revealed that all types of NP reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Notably, PS, HDPE, and PP induced significant reductions in cell viability at lower concentrations, compared to PEMA and PET. Moreover, exposure to NP led to differential alterations in the expression of inflammatory genes in the macrophage cell line. Overall, this study presents a viable method for producing NP from waste materials that closely resemble real-world NP. Furthermore, the toxicity studies demonstrated distinct cellular responses based on the composition of the NP, shedding light on the potential environmental and health impacts of these particles.

The cost-efficacy of a healthy food box for managing hypertension within a native American population: a group randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDietary interventions are used for the treatment of hypertension. We evaluated the cost-efficacy of delivering boxes of healthy, culturally tailored foods and checks that can only be spent on produce in a Native American population.MethodsWe conducted a group randomized controlled trial from 2018 to 2020 with N = 2 treatment counties and N = 2 control counties and a total of N = 160 Native American adults with baseline stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension. Participants in the intervention group received monthly boxes of food that adheres to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet as well as checks that could only be spent on produce for 6 months. We measured blood pressure and quality of life at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up in both intervention and control groups. We used ordered logistic regression to estimate the effect of treatment on probability of blood pressure improvements. We then conducted a cost-efficacy analysis.ResultsWe found that treatment was effective in reducing blood pressure in women with stage 1 hypertension at baseline. Based on this finding, we also estimate that this intervention satisfies normative cost-effectiveness thresholds, even when lifetime treatment is needed to preserve the impact, so long as treatment is only continued in those who respond to treatment.ConclusionsDirect delivery of healthy foods and checks that can only be spent on produce are a potentially cost-effective intervention for the management of hypertension among Native American women with stage 1 hypertension. Further research is needed to understand why we found an impact only for this group.

Food as Medicine: FOODRx for Patients with Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Central Minnesota—A PILOT STUDY

The number of food-insecure individuals with diabetes is on the rise. FOODRx is a supplemental healthy food intervention program that gave disease-appropriate food boxes to food-insecure patients with diabetes at their care clinic and included nutrition and recipe materials in the patient’s preferred language (English, Spanish, or Somali). Implemented over a twelve-month period, we analyze FOODRx participants’ pre and post clinical measures, health care usage, and program/clinic satisfaction, and found that participation was linked to post improvements in fasting glucose and HgbA1c levels, reductions in ER visits and healthcare costs, and a decline in patients choosing between medication and food. Glucose levels decreased from 214 to 187 mg/dL and HgbA1c levels decreased from 9.6% to 9.1%. Average ER visits dropped from 1.21 to 1 visit and the reductions in healthcare costs were reflected in a decrease of an average of USD 250,000 in insurance claims. Patients were less likely to experience food insecurity, as measured in number of meals skipped and levels of hunger. Finally, the program improved patient satisfaction with the cultural responsiveness of the information shared with them.

Sustainable solutions in single-use food containers: A comprehensive life cycle assessment comparing plastic (PP) and its green alternative (PLA coated kraft paper, PLA)

The research conducted a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) of single-use food packaging made from PP, PLA, and Paper/PLA materials using the ReCiPe method. The assessment covered 18 environmental impacts from box processing to end-of-life treatment, with a functional unit (FU) specified as 1,000 units of single-use food container boxes. The dimensions of the boxes were standardized to reflect the average size from the Thailand market and food-delivery boxes. When focused on production stage, PP box shows the greatest impact on overall especially human non-carcinogenic toxicity (285.11 kg 1, 4-DCB). However, when focused on cradle-to-grave life cycle, the PP emerged as the optimal choice of food box due to its comparable environmental impact to biodegradable alternatives, when applying recycling processes. It recycles significantly reduces the total impact up to 73% from their waste-to-energy treatment option. To achieve environmental goals necessitates policy interventions such as extended producer responsibility laws and refund schemes to incentivize responsible disposal. In country lacking waste management infrastructure and collection system, the sensitivity analysis of this research show that biodegradable PLA material emerges as the most suitable choice, particularly over Paper/PLA, offering lower overall environmental impact due to less overall emission in landfill and composting process.

Healthy food delivery for type 2 diabetes management in rural clinics' patients: A comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial protocol

BackgroundRural populations experience a higher prevalence of both food insecurity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than metropolitan populations and face many challenges in accessing resources essential to optimal T2DM self-management. This study aims to address these challenges by delivering a T2DM-appropriate food box and recipes directly to rural participants' homes. MethodsThis is a comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial including 400 English- or Spanish-speaking rural adult participants with T2DM (HbA1c ≥6.5%) experiencing food insecurity. Participants are randomly assigned to a 3-month Healthy Food Delivery Intervention (HFDI) plus one 60-min virtual consultation with a diabetes educator or consultation only. The HFDI includes a weekly food box delivery with recipes. Data are collected at pre-intervention, 3-months (post-intervention), 9-months, and 15-months. The primary outcome is change in HbA1c, with secondary measures including diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2015, calculated from one 24-h dietary recall at each data collection time point), cardio-metabolic risk factors (i.e., blood pressure, lipids, body mass index, glucose), and patient-centered outcomes (e.g., T2DM self-efficacy, T2DM-related distress). Process evaluation data (e.g., successful food box deliveries, diabetes educator consultation attendance, intervention satisfaction) are collected during and post-intervention (3-months). A cost-effectiveness analysis based on traditional cost per quality-adjusted life year gain thresholds will be conducted to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness between HFDI plus consultation and consultation alone. ConclusionFindings from this study will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of an intervention that promotes participant adherence and improves access to healthy food.Clinical Trial Registration:NCT04876053

Factors Affecting Food-Related Activity Performance in Low-Income Older Adults

In an effort to reduce food access issues for older adults, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides monthly food assistance specifically for low-income older adults through local food banks. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that influence an older adult’s performance in food-related activities. Older adults eligible to receive a monthly senior food box from community food distribution sites were recruited to complete a survey. The survey included home information, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS®) v1.1 Global Health measure, individualized supplemental food utilization profile (FP), and a kitchen inventory. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed. From December 2021 until March 2023, n = 200 participants were recruited and n = 36 took the survey for an 18% completion rate with a mean age of 71 years old; 61% were female and 36% were male. Of the participants who took the survey, 64% ( n = 23) acknowledged having at least one chronic disease and 89% ( n = 32) indicated they prepared meals for themselves. The OPMF revealed grocery shopping, cooking, and eating as “extremely important” and directly related to their performance and satisfaction. The FP rate revealed that 61% ( n = 22) of participants always use 100% of their food box by the end of each month. While the participants in this study report having at least one chronic disease, most are functional and independent when it comes to food-related activities, and most report that they have the tools to manage and use their food resources.

ALCANCE Food for Health Equity: Community-driven development of a food insecurity intervention for patients with cancer.

208 Background: Food insecurity is prevalent among patients undergoing cancer treatment and has been associated with decreased adherence to cancer therapies, malnutrition risk, and poor quality of life. While food insecurity disproportionately impacts low-income, immigrant and non-English speaking populations, few studies have assessed the needs and preferences for these populations as it relates to interventions that can address this growing problem. In previous work, we identified that 50% of populations in our partner clinic screened positive for food insecurity. This study aimed to assess the needs and preferences of low-income, culturally diverse patients with cancer who screened positive for food insecurity and to co-develop an intervention to address these needs. Methods: Participants were recruited among low-income and immigrant adults ≥18 years of age who screened positive for food insecurity using the 2-item Hunger Vital Sign as part of an ongoing parent randomized controlled trial evaluating a precision medicine intervention. 1:1 semi-structured interviews were conducted in English or Spanish to assess dietary habits, barriers to obtaining healthy food, and preferences regarding intervention assistance options, including on-site food pantry, home delivery of food boxes, food vouchers, and cash transfers. Interviews responses were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Results: Of the 110 patients screened for food insecurity as part of the parent trial, 40 (36.4%) screened positive for food insecurity. Among these patients, 31 identified as Hispanic or Latinx (77.5%), and 26 (65%) indicated Spanish as their primary language. Nineteen (47.5%) reported a household income of &lt;$34,000, 24 (60%) were on Medicaid, and 14 (35%) identified as disabled. A total of 10 participants were randomly selected and consented to participate in interviews. Three main themes emerged from interviews: 1) cancer diagnoses necessitated changes to food behaviors including emphasis on nutrient dense and symptomatically tolerated foods; 2) contributors to food insecurity included higher costs of healthy food options, lack of employment during treatment, limited support, and coexisting expenses including financial toxicity from cancer treatment; 3) priorities for assistance included limiting sense of reliance on charity, autonomy in choosing desired food items that are culturally preferent, and timing assistance with other expenses to maximally relieve financial strain. Conclusions: Food insecurity is a critical issue among patients with cancer with disproportionate impact on low-income and immigrant populations. Various opportunities for intervention are well-received by patients and have the potential to reduce the burden of food insecurity among these populations.

Can government investment in food pantries decrease food insecurity?

About 10% of Americans are food insecure, lacking consistent access to enough food for a healthy lifestyle. One way that the federal government seeks to reduce food insecurity is by investing in charitable food providers, such as food banks and pantries. This paper highlights a limitation on the potential effects of these investments on food insecurity: some communities have more charitable food providers than others. We support this claim with an analysis of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, a U.S. COVID-19 program which distributed about 175 million boxes of food worth $9 billion to food pantries from May 2020 to May 2021. Consistent with our expectations, we find that food was targeted primarily to food insecure counties, but that counties with high rates of food insecurity that lack many food pantries received significantly less food than counties with equally high rates of food insecurity but more food pantries. Moving forward, policymakers should focus on providing direct aid to those in need, and on building a charitable food system rather than only investing more resources in the existing system.

From waste plastic to artificial lotus leaf: Upcycling waste polypropylene to superhydrophobic spheres with hierarchical micro/nanostructure

Polypropylene (PP) is the second most commonly used plastic in the industry and a key component in materials packaging and medical consumables. Its accumulation has increased due to the shift from reusable to single-use containers and the significant amounts of biomedical waste generated. We are working towards developing a cost-efficient methodology to convert polypropylene (PP) waste into superhydrophobic materials. Our approach involves the chemical treatment of waste PP to create micron-sized spheres (5 ∼ 10 µm) with hierarchical nanostructures and superhydrophobic properties. The produced microspheres show a water contact angle up to 164° and a rolling off angle as low as 2.6°, comparable to natural lotus leaf. The effectiveness of this process has been demonstrated in waste PP from various sources, including surgical masks, syringes, take-away food boxes, and bubble tea cups. The resulting superhydrophobic material has promise for applications in superhydrophobic coating, self-cleaning, and water-oil separation.

‘We’ve Never Done This Before’

How do you build a community around a systemic problem such as food justice in a crisis via creative resilience methodologies? In what ways can the lessons learned in a creative crisis response help foster a more adaptive and responsive food system in preparing for future crises? ‘We’ve never done this before’ became the motto of Fawkner Commons when local residents, Jen Rae from Fair Share Fare and partner Sally Beattie co-founder of Fawkner Food Bowls mobilised local food producers, community members and partners to covert a community garden into an urban farm and a disused lawn bowling club into a community-led COVID-19-response food hub. Fawkner, the most food insecure and culturally diverse suburb in the City of Merri-bek1 (5kms north of the CBD of Melbourne, Australia) was heavily impacted by the 2020–21 COVID-19 Victorian state lockdowns, restrictions, case numbers and deaths. While most food relief organisations closed or were overwhelmed, Fawkner Commons became a central hub for food aggregation and provisioning, distributing over $116K boxes of no-cost/low-cost culturally relevant food boxes and over 2,400 prepared meals in 2020. This article is a critical reflection delving into some of the creative methodologies underpinning the success of Fawkner Commons and its legacy in the community. With a focus on social cohesion, accessibility and inclusion, it offers lessons to support the transformation of other hyperlocal food systems to become more adaptive, responsive and collaborative working with communities, artists, local government and food organisations.