Summary
The DeKalb County Fresh on DeK (FOD) Mobile Farmers Market was established to serve DeKalb County citizens in the areas of nutrition and wellness. This is the 9th consecutive market season. Fresh on DeK Mobile Farmers Market targets communities without access to grocery stores within a one (1) mile radius. Fresh on DeK also provides an opportunity to learn healthy eating habits and make better decisions about the food that DeKalb County citizens consume.
Situation
DeKalb County has seen a continued, compounded the negative impact on health and wellness due to inflation, high food costs, and rippling impacts from COVID-19. Food insecurity affects physical and mental health. Many residents in food desert communities are forced to choose between healthy, nutrient dense foods or convenience foods. This program is made possible with funding from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, DeKalb County Government DeKalb County Board of Health and UGA Cooperative Extension.
Response
Fresh on DeK Mobile Farmer’s Market visited 16 sites in food deserts in DeKalb County over the course of 16 weeks providing education and fresh produce to DeKalb residents. Fresh on DeK provides fresh produce at low cost in strategic locations throughout the county, including recreation centers, senior communities, public libraries, churches, and community centers. Residents are able to purchase a wide range of produce, including but not limited to, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges, corn, green beans, plums, peaches, and kale. Fresh on DeK continues offering digital education, including weekly classes, food demonstrations, and healthy-living handouts. New in 2023, DeKalb residents that participated in the weekly online classes were able to redeem discount vouchers for produce purchases, to incentivize class participation.
Impact
During the 16-week 2023 farmers market season, Fresh on DeK Mobile Farmer’s Market reached 4,866 participants with the pop-up market. The number of participants has shifted from last year’s farmers market season due to the change in program delivery. Although the number of participants has changed, those that visit the mobile farmers market benefit from a richer experience from the mobile market in addition to a wider variety of produce. A participant from the market this year said, “The change is great because I get to talk to the team about how I make healthy choices for my family and get to pick out exactly what I need to get.”
Fresh on DeK continues the educational outreach through weekly 1-hour healthy living classes on Zoom, Facebook Live and now YouTube online platforms for 16 weeks and educational extenders given to participants who attended weekly. Increasing by over 1,215 participants from last year, Fresh on DeK Healthy Living classes had 1,857 online participants and views from through various topics such as Trends in health and wellness in 2023, nutrition labels and creating S.M.A.R.T Goals. The increase in participation was contributed to the added incentive of $10 off participants purchases at the market with a word -of-the-week that could only be found in the class. A participant of the classes said, “I felt so encouraged to become more physically active. I've started walking.” Another participant commented, “Positive input on my health into my sometimes negative head.”
State Issue
Health & Wellness
Details
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Year:
2023
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Geographic Scope:
County
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County:
DeKalb
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Location:
College Station, Athens
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Program Areas:
- Family and Consumer Sciences
