Connecting Local Food to Local People-Highlandtown Healthy Harvest

Monica R. J. Bland
University of Maryland Extension-Baltimore City
Expanded Food and Nutrition Educator Program

The Highlandtown community is a miniature of the “Great American Melting Pot” where various cultures-specifically , Latino, White, African American, Greek, Italian as well as a growing African and Middle Eastern refugee population-live influencing community tradition, food and family values. However, participation from non-whites at the local farmer’s market was disproportionately low considering the demographics of the area. This program is designed to engage and increase participation at the farmer’s market by the limited income and culturally diverse populations in the area.

The collaborating organizations and agencies in this program are: Breath of God Lutheran Church with funding provided by the Lutheran Home & Hospital Foundation; the University of Maryland Extension-Baltimore City – Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program; Southeast Community Development Corporation

Each program partner has its own program evaluation method and the program sponsor compiles a final report after evaluation, comparison and input of the program partners.
• EFNEP- An entry/exit food recall and 14-question checklist is administered at the beginning and end of each series of workshops.
•BOGLC-Voucher redemption is tracked by family usage and the amounts redeemed.
•SECDC-Program tokens are tracked by type of vendor and the type of food purchased.

Overall, the simplicity of the model-an organization that wants to impact their community, partners that can provide appropriate resources and identification of community assets is replicable, adaptable and applicable to any audience and virtually any program.