Healthy Behaviors and Choices (e.g. Fitness, Tobacco, Opioids, Nutrition)
Sharing Session - 30 Minutes
Elizabeth Connolly, MPH
Public Health Education Coordinator
Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health
Catherine Tegtmeier, RN, MPH, AEM
Assistant Commissioner for Community Health
Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health
According to the 2016 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Dutchess County was among the top 10 counties in New York state having the highest frequency of low-income residents who do not live near a grocery store. Dutchess County’s Microgreens Initiative, one of 50 programs selected nationally for the 2016 Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, was developed as a multi-sector collaboration involving the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health and public, private, and not-for-profit partners, to address population health from multiple domains including socioeconomic, environmental, and educational factors.
Microgreens are tender immature greens produced from the seeds of vegetables and herbs that contain higher concentrations of nutrients compared to fully developed salad greens. They can be sustainably grown year round in relatively small spaces and quickly regenerated from seed to harvest in six days. The Microgreens Initiative has introduced over 60,000 servings of organic microgreens in meal programs serving affected students and seniors in Dutchess County since 2016, while providing evidence-based nutrition education, hands-on growing and harvesting demonstrations, and supporting employment experience for marginalized residents.
We will share findings from our process evaluation including interviews, surveys, purchase data, participant feedback, and photos of the program in action. We aim to stimulate dialogue on challenges and opportunities in cross-sector interventions seeking to improve public health across multiple domains including socioeconomic, environmental, and educational sectors.