Healthy Communities Resources and Publications
Healthy Communities Resources and Publications
Local Food Systems Publications
The following publications were produced as part of a USDA-AMS sponsored project, Local and Regional Food Systems Response to COVID. These publications are part of a Consumer Food Insights Series reporting the results of a national survey of 5,000 households from 2020 to 2024. CEDIK Associate Research Professor Jairus Rossi is one of the UKY researchers working on this project. Visit the project website to learn more.
Publication | Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023Authors: Jairus Rossi and Dawn Thilmany | This Consumer Food Insight (CFI) series is comprised of short reports centered on specific geographic regions. The intent of these CFIs is to provide a snapshot of regional consumer trends at a moment when post-COVID patterns of market engagement are evolving. |
Publication | Changes in Expenditures at Local Food Market Channels in Differently Sized CommunitiesAuthor: Jairus Rossi | In this Consumer Food Insight (CFI), changes in local food expenditure in eight distinct market channels are evaluated by community size. These changes are compared at distinct time intervals: each fall from 2019 to 2023. |
Publication | Exploring Awareness and Promotional Linkages to New Market Channels during COVIDAuthors: Libby Christensen (CSU), Jairus Rossi (UKY), Sarah Rocker, Dr. Dawn Thilmany (CSU) | As public health restrictions began to ease across the country, many consumers returned to more mainstream sources of food (supermarkets, supercenters, and chain restaurants). At the same time, buying within Local and Regional Food Systems (LRFS) market channels (farmers market, direct from producer, artisan market, independent/local restaurant, and food boxes) also stayed relatively consistent or increased during this same time. |
Publication | Local Food Perception Differences Between Residents in Differently-Sized CommunitiesAuthor: Jairus Rossi | Includes a discussion of new usage of local food market channels during COVID. This is a short data analysis from a national consumer survey related to COVID. Since 2020, COVID-19 has impacted individuals’ food purchasing decisions. Specifically, supply chain disruptions in conventional food outlets prompted consumers to seek alternative food market channels. However, consumer trends are expected to vary according to different contexts and experiences. |
Publication | Changes in Expenditures at Local Food Market ChannelsAuthor: Jairus Rossi | COVID-19 had a profound impact on where consumers acquired foods.In this CFI, we evaluate changes in local food expenditure in eight distinct market channels. We compare these changes at three distinct time intervals. |
Publication | Who is Buying Food from Local Market Channels for the First Time?Author: Jairus Rossi | A survey of U.S. households in 2020, discussed in the Local Food System Consumer Food Insight (CFI) report, shows that approximately one-third of respondents purchased food from a local food business for the first time that year. Similar responses were observed in responses to the 2021 survey conducted as part of this project. Collectively, the survey results indicate that many consumers altered their shopping habits during the pandemic to include more local food markets. |
Final Report 1.0: Local and Regional Food System Covid-19 Rapid ResponseAuthors: Dawn Thilmany, Lilian Brislen, Jairus Rossi, Tim Woods, Samantha Schaffstall, Becca Jablonski, Hailey Edmonson, and MacKenzie Gill | The COVID-19 pandemic, and associated public health mandates, caused unprecedented shifts and disruptions for local and regional food systems (LRFS).The project’s purpose was to analyze the impacts of the pandemic in real time, collect and share emerging resources, provide COVID-related technical assistance, and facilitate collaborative stakeholder relationships within and between sectors. |
Publication | Consumer Changes by Weekly Food Expenditures by Market Channel in Non-Metropolitan CommunitiesAuthor: Jairus Rossi | As a result of COVID-19, many individuals reshaped their food acquisition strategies in 2020.These changes in attitude and behavior, related to local food acquisition, differ by community size as the choices and access to markets likely varies across locations. This CFI presents data related to individuals’ expenditure changes at market channels in smaller communities, before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Publication | Local Food Systems Response to COVID: Building Better BeyondAuthor: Jairus Rossi | COVID-related restaurant closures have left farmers without important buyers and restaurant workers without employment. These new disruptions endangered not only the restaurant industry, but also the relationships between producers and restaurants. The Restaurant Reboot Relief Program (RRRP) was designed to help maintain and strengthen the relationships between independent restaurants and local farmers. |
Healthy Community Connections Curriculum
This program curriculum uses John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber's book, That's Not How We Do It Here! to frame group discussion, with the goal of building the confidence of the group to actively bring about change, while expanding the group's networks to address community change.
Author: Dr. Dan Kahl | Cooperative Extension can be a catalyst for change by helping to coordinate and invite community members to actively assess access to healthy foods and resources. Examples of methods of assessment include environmental mapping or walking assessments, leadership programs, focus groups, and public gatherings. This program curriculum will build group knowledge of community systems and community change, and expands the group's awareness of local policies, systems, and environmental conditions that impact health. Materials for Leading Healthy Community Connections were created by Dr. Daniel Kahl, University of Kentucky, CEDIK as a SNAP-Education community change initiative to improve community level health factors. The leadership program is based on the book That’s Not How We Do It Here! by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber© Kotter International 2016.
