Journal of Horticulture
Open Access

Abstract

Grow a Row: A Community Effort to Increase Vegetable and Fruit Access to Those with Food Insecurity by Linking a Community Garden with a Local Food Pantry

C. Ahmed*

As communities try to fill in the gaps for those who are hungry, have no food, or are food insecure during the month, many programs have been initiated. The food systems across the United States include many sources of food besides grocery stores. A person can purchase food from big box stores, gas stations, farmers markets, and small local grocery stores. Free food can be obtained from food pantries, school lunch programs funded by the US department of agriculture, church run meal programs and community run meals on wheels for seniors. The US Department of Agriculture also runs programs for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Food Assistance Programs (SNAP). In spite of this, there are still gaps in communities across the US. Research shows an estimated 11.1% of households in the United States experienced food insecurity during 2018. This is of concern because associated with food insecurity is decreased quality of diet, such as lower intake of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, and poorer health outcomes.

A community level action to increase access to fresh vegetables is through garden grow a row/plant a row for the hungry programs being implemented throughout the US and Canada. We report here the design and implementation of a pilot project, grow a row, in the Vermillion Community Garden (VCG) for a small community of population about 10,000. The primary goal achieved was in providing fresh produce for the food pantry serving the county with the secondary goals of engagement of the VCG gardeners in this community effort and sustainability of the grow a row program to address food insecurity in the community. The produce donated to the food pantry came from three dedicated plots and from VCG gardeners, delivered on a weekly basis throughout the 2016-2018 growing seasons, May to November. Over 300 pounds (lbs) or 138 kilograms (kg) of food was grown and donated to the food pantry the first year, increasing to over 400 lbs by the third year. This report can serve as a guide for community gardens in other communities to participate in improving access to healthy foods.

Published Date: 2024-06-19; Received Date: 2019-11-15