Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
Office of Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022 May;54(5):432-441. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.09.005.
To evaluate the influence of the Growing Together Illinois fresh produce donation program and understand factors that affect produce distribution at participating food pantries.
In this intervention at 17 Illinois food pantries, Master Gardeners supported food donation gardens, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education provided educational and environmental interventions to increase selection and use of fresh produce. This mixed-methods pre-post study assessed pantry characteristics and program impact via Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool evaluations, interview feedback from pantry staff, and structured pantry observations.
Pantries experienced significant increases from preintervention to postintervention in providing various types of produce, marketing and nudging healthful products, providing additional resources, and total Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool scores. Participants had positive feedback about the program and educational interventions and reported the weekly timing of donations mitigated potential storage and spoilage issues.
Future research could focus on approaches to increase fresh produce in food pantries while supporting clients via nutrition and cooking education.
评估伊利诺伊州“共同成长”新鲜农产品捐赠计划的影响，并了解影响参与食品储藏室农产品分配的因素。
在伊利诺伊州 17 家食品储藏室的这项干预措施中，园艺大师支持食品捐赠花园，补充营养援助计划教育提供教育和环境干预措施，以增加新鲜农产品的选择和使用。这项混合方法的前后研究通过营养环境食品储藏室评估工具评估、食品储藏室工作人员的访谈反馈以及结构化食品储藏室观察，评估了食品储藏室的特点和计划影响。
与干预前相比，食品储藏室在提供各种类型的农产品、营销和推动健康产品、提供额外资源以及总营养环境食品储藏室评估工具得分方面都有显著增加。参与者对该计划和教育干预措施的反馈积极，并报告说每周的捐赠时间缓解了潜在的储存和变质问题。
未来的研究可以专注于增加食品储藏室中新鲜农产品的方法，同时通过营养和烹饪教育为客户提供支持。
