For a while, academic research has said locally grown food promotes healthy living. Six UF students enrolled in the Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Local Food Systems honors class found an inexpensive way to transform this theory into social change.
At the start of their semester project, these students studied the demographics of Gainesville communities and chose to focus on the Porters neighborhood.
Their research showed that lower-income communities don’t usually have the best access to health care and could benefit from healthy eating habits. The solution for implementing habitual change seemed obvious to them: Start with children.
“There are so many great things that come from working with kids,” said Lauren E. Killer, an 18-year-old English and theatre freshman. “It keeps kids active, and it keeps kids off the streets.”
The project creates a collaboration between Florida Organic Growers and the Porters Community Center. It aims to encourage Porters families to purchase locally grown food by subsidizing membership discounts.
The students plan to improve the eating habits of local children by holding workshops about healthy foods, how to properly prepare them and the long-term benefits of doing so, Killer said.
The project is funded by a stipend. To measure the success of their initiative, the students plan to have the kids create a photo collage of their efforts, said 20-year-old industrial engineering sophomore Luis E. Suarez.
Mariya Zarembo said if the program succeeds, she would like to expand it.
“We would love to have the people in the Office of Sustainability continuing with the program, possibly in other communities as well,” said the 19-year-old marketing sophomore.
The students agreed the most attractive aspect of their initiative is its effect on the overall locality.
“It’s about making the effort to help and appreciate the local community,” Suarez said.
Children learn about fresh produce from Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Local Food Systems UF honors class students Wednesday afternoon at the Porters Community Center.
