Susan J. Algert

Barriers to Participation in the Food Stamp Program Among Food Pantry Clients in Los Angeles

Substantial numbers of food pantry clients are eligible for food stamps but do not receive them. Background characteristics of 14317 food pantry users in Los Angeles were analyzed to provide information helpful in food stamp outreach programs. Ninety percent of food pantry users were living well below poverty level, 59% were Hispanic, and 44% were homeless. Only 15% of the food pantry clients received food stamps, with homelessness and limited English language skills acting as barriers to food stamp program participation.

Vegetable Output and Cost Savings of Community Gardens in San Jose, California

Urban dwellers across the United States increasingly access a variety of fresh vegetables through participation in neighborhood-level community gardens. Here we document vegetable output and cost savings of community gardens in the city of San Jose, CA, to better understand the capacity of community gardens to affect food affordability in an urban setting. A convenience sample of 83 community gardeners in San Jose completed a background survey during spring and summer 2012. On average, gardeners were aged 57 years and had a monthly income of

Community and home gardens increase vegetable intake and food security of residents in San Jose, California

4,900; 25% had completed college. A representative subset of 10 gardeners was recruited to weigh vegetable output of their plots using portable electronic scales at three separate garden sites. Accuracy of each portable scale was verified by comparing the weight of a sample vegetable to weights obtained using a lab scale precise to 0.2 oz. Garden yields and cost savings were tabulated overall for each plot. Results indicate that community garden practices are more similar to biointensive high-production farming, producing 0.75 lb vegetables/sq ft, rather than conventional agricultural practices, producing 0.60 lb/sq ft. Gardens produced on average 2.55 lb/plant and saved

Vegetable Output, Cost Savings, and Nutritional Value of Low-Income Families’ Home Gardens in San Jose, CA

435 per plot for the season. Results indicate that cost savings are greatest if vertical high value crops such as tomatoes and peppers are grown in community gardens, although yields depend on growing conditions, gardeners skill, availability of water, and other factors. Future research is needed to document cost savings and yields for specific crops grown in community gardens.

Food Inventories Document Behavior Change in Hispanic Women Participating in SNAP Nutrition Education Classes: A Pilot Study

As of 2013, 42 million American households were involved in growing their own food either at home or in a community garden plot. The purpose of this pilot study was to document the extent to which gardeners, particularly less affluent ones, increase their vegetable intake when eating from either home or community garden spaces. Eighty-five community gardeners and 50 home gardeners from San Jose, California, completed a survey providing information on demographic background, self-rated health, vegetable intake and the benefits of gardening. The gardeners surveyed were generally low income and came from a variety of ethnic and educational backgrounds. Participants in this study reported doubling their vegetable intake to a level that met the number of daily servings recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Growing food in community and home gardens can contribute to food security by helping provide access to fresh vegetables and increasing consumption of vegetables by gardeners and their families.

Food Resource Management Education With SNAP Participation Improves Food Security

ABSTRACT Participation in home food gardening in the United States has been growing. From 2008 to 2013, the number of home gardens increased by 4 million, and the number of households with annual incomes of less than

Teaching elementary school children about healthy Native American foods.

35 000 that are food gardening rose by 38%. The purpose of this study was to measure crop output, cost savings, and nutritional value of low-income home gardeners in San Jose, California. This pilot study included administering a background survey to a convenience sample of low-income home gardeners with a subset of gardeners weighing vegetable output of plots during the 2104 spring–summer growing season. Participants included an ethnically diverse group of 50 low-income families who completed the survey and 8 gardeners who weighed vegetable output of their garden. The gardeners produced an average of 1.23 lb vegetables/ft2 and saved an average of

Plan, Shop, Save, Cook: Influence of SNAP on Program Outcomes

339 by growing their own vegetables. Cost savings were greatest when vertical high-value crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers were grown. All weighers but one produced 60% or more of the total cups of vegetables recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. This small pilot study demonstrates that home gardens can produce substantial cost savings and improve nutrition in diets of low-income families.

Communitywide strategies key to preventing childhood obesity

The objective of this mixed methods study was to measure changes in the home food environment of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible Hispanic families participating in a series of nutrition education and resource management classes. This small pilot project conducted before and after inventories and ethnographic interviews with 5 families to measure success of the classes in improving the quality and quantity of foods at home. Families improved food security by making the following behavior changes to stretch their food dollars: planning menus, using leftovers, using shopping lists, and shopping less often. Participants used savings to purchase additional healthy food including whole wheat bread and fruit.