– Achieving Educational Objectives –

The baseline for our educational objectives was informed by the “State of the Plate Report” (2015) by The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council which revealed some disturbing statistics about our community’s health. That study addressed the low adherence to eating the proper number of fruits and vegetables/day by area residents and challenges to food access.

• Only 11% of us eat the recommended vegetables & fruits per day

• 35% of households with children are food insecure vs. 19% nationwide

• Desire for freshness ranked #1 by consumers, but many are challenged by transportation, cost, and lack of availability

We knew that our mission to help educate on nutrition and mitigate food insecurity was critical when we reviewed the outcomes of sub-optimal food choices. A 2017-2018 assessment by the Mecklenburg County Health Department shows the impact on our city’s health because of these statistics, a situation that has only worsened with COVID-19.

• 61% of adults in our area are overweight/obese

• Heart disease is the second leading cause of death

• 30% of our population suffers from chronic health issues, largely controllable by a produce-based diet.

• Trends for the future show an alarming impact on the quality of life, healthcare costs, and premature deaths.

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