Farmers Markets for Health wins President's Medal for Social Embeddedness

For their demonstrated excellence in fostering community partnerships for positive change, the Farmers Markets for Health team has won the President's Medal for Social Embeddedness.

At ASU social embeddedness is a university-wide, interactive and mutually supportive partnership with the communities of Arizona. This award recognizes ASU teams that have demonstrated excellence in fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with community leaders to identify a community need and to co-create and implement a solution that leads to positive social change in the community and in the research, teaching and service practices of ASU.

Improved Nutrition through Arizona Farmers' Markets

Buying ‘local’ from farmers’ markets (FMs) is a fast-growing trend, and one of importance for health. FMs may increase access to healthy whole foods, especially in neighborhoods that might otherwise lack them. The Farmers' Markets for Health team partnered with FM managers in underserved communities to identify technology solutions to barriers that limit use of FMs.

Financial barriers were addressed by implementing wireless card reader terminals in 5 FMs throughout Arizona, which increased both overall sales and use of food assistance program benefits. Second, non-financial barriers were addressed by assisting FM shoppers in identifying factors that enhanced or detracted from the FM experience using an electronic tablet-based environmental assessment tool to capture 'real-time' perceptions of the market. These projects successfully engaged faculty, staff, students, and community partners across 4 ASU departments, in 2 different ASU schools and campuses, and were embedded in 5 distinct Arizona communities.

The wireless terminals continue to be used at participating FMs, and findings from the environmental assessments are informing how market managers design and promote use of their markets. Collectively, these projects contribute to increased access to healthy foods for low-income communities in Arizona.

Team members:
Matthew Buman, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Exercise and Wellness
Farryl Bertmann, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Nutrition
Kristin Fankhauser, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Kinesiology
Amanda Gordon, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Exercise and Wellness
Eric Hekler, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Nutrition
Jonathan Kurka, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Exercise and Wellness
Gina Lacagnina, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Nutrition
Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Nutrition
Christopher Wharton, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Nutrition
Amy Woof, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development

Community partners:
Art Babbott, Flagstaff Community Market Managers
Heather Babbott, Flagstaff Community Market Managers
Cindy Gentry, Community Food Consultants
Dee Logan, Arizona Community Farmers Market Coordinator