February 2024 Nutrition Notes
February 2024 Nutrition Notes
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A Message from our Executive Director
The beginning of a new year lends itself to setting intentions for what’s ahead. At the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, we have entered 2024 with the needs of our partners and the communities we serve in mind. And we are confident 2024 will be our most transformative year yet.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ National Nutrition Month® is celebrated each year in March, and this year, Beyond the Table, will focus on farm-to-table. This theme will highlight key aspects of the movement such as food production and distribution, navigating grocery stores and farmers markets, home food safety and storage practices, and more.
The farm-to-table movement has boomed in recent decades. For example, the number of farmers markets increased from 1,755 in 1994 to 8,771 in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
The 2024 theme will also focus on sustainability and food waste efforts—topics that are strongly aligned with our dedication to tackling the root causes of nutrition and food security challenges and responding to current community needs using evidence-based research strategies.
In honor of National Nutrition Month®, we are highlighting some Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grantees who do just that—think “beyond the table.” They continue moving the needle by centering sustainability, accessibility and health equity within their local communities.
Pictured above: Wellspring Harvest’s hydroponic lettuce inside the greenhouse.
Wellspring Harvest • Indian Orchard, MA
Pictured above: Wellspring Harvest, home to the largest urban greenhouse in Massachusetts.
Wellspring Harvest is a worker-owned cooperative greenhouse business located in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts. It is the largest urban greenhouse in the state with 14,400 square feet of production space. The greenhouse was developed by the Wellspring Cooperative Corporation, a community development corporation dedicated to creating a network of worker-owned companies. The organization provides employment with on-the-job training and opportunities for city residents with limited income to make money. Built on a brownfield site, an area of land that was previously used for industrial or commercial purposes and may have some environmental contamination, purchased from the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, the Wellspring Harvest greenhouse grows hydroponic lettuce varieties and herbs for distribution to commercial and institutional customers throughout Massachusetts. Hydroponics, which means “water working,” is the well-established technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. This technique maximizes crop yields, nutrition and flavor using scientifically derived, crop–specific nutrient mixes–without using pesticides or chemicals. Customers include the Go Fresh Mobile Market, which serves the Springfield Produce Prescription project, local supermarkets, produce markets, colleges, schools, hospitals and regional food hubs.
Rural Health Network of South Central NY • Binghamton, NY
Russell Farms • Brackney, PA
Pictured above: Fresh fruits from Russell Farms.
Rural Health Network of South Central New York’s (Rural Health Network) mission is simple: to advance the health and well-being of people and communities in rural areas. To further this mission, Rural Health Network has partnered with local producers such as Russell Farms, a family-owned farm in Brackney, Pennsylvania, that offers the freshest produce through community supported agriculture programs year-round. GusNIP funds have allowed Russell Farms to build their community by providing fresh produce to individuals who do not have the access or financial means to purchase healthy foods otherwise. Being in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Russell Farms is highly susceptible to frost damage that can, and has, wiped out their entire apple crop. To combat this, they have installed a frost protection plan in the orchard where they spray water on the buds to insulate them from freezing. Through continuous innovation and adaptability, the family at Russell Farms strives to promote a healthy lifestyle while making fresh local produce accessible for more individuals. They continually hear positive feedback from members of the Produce Prescription Project and love creating experiences for families to enjoy at their retail locations and u-pick apple orchard.
Pictured above: Angela Russell and Michael Jr. Russell.
In 2024, GSCN is thrilled to continue innovating and collaborating on exciting projects and partnerships that allow us to take a multi-dimensional approach to helping to alleviate hunger and creating nutrition and food security for all. We aim to change the collective narrative of nutrition and food security, and will make a meaningful difference in public health.
In the coming weeks, we encourage you to learn more about the farm-to-table initiatives in your area, purchasing local, fresh foods and developing healthy eating and active living habits.