Food Systems

December 19, 2023

How to increase plant-based meal consumption at UW: a fieldwork experience

Created a short lecture on how to increase student consumption of plant-based offerings at UW in order to help UW meet their Sustainability Action Plan goals. The lecture centers choice architecture-informed techniques to craft a food setting that nudges folks to choose climate friendly, plant-based food. It also looks at how other universities are making…

Exploring Connections Between Markets and Health: A Collaboration with Slow Food International

Collaborated with Slow Food International to support a webinar exploring the connection between farmer’s markets and health. Synthesized findings and external research into an editorial for marketing initiatives. Community Partner: Slow Food International; Earth Markets division

WSDA 2022-2023 Farm to School Purchasing Grants’ Post-Grant Survey and Purchasing Data Analysis

Analyzed 2022-2023 Farm to School Purchasing Grants’ post-grant survey and purchasing data to produce key impact metrics. These key metrics will be used to report the impact of the 2022-2023 Farm to School Grants to policy makers, stakeholders, and public as an impact infographic that will be released at WSDA website. Community Partner: WA State…

Assessing the Marketing Environment of Online Grocery Retail

Designed a scorecard protocol to evaluate and rank online grocery retailers based on the influence of their marketing practices on accessibility and consumer choice of nutritious foods. Community Partner: Center for Science in the Public Interest

Food Security & Sovereignty in Alaska Native Communities

Conducted a literature review exploring papers that document food security and health in Alaska Native communities as well as how agriculture grants and programs do or don’t align with Alaska Native needs and goals around food security. Findings from literature review supported ongoing work to a report on Food Security and Sovereignty in Alaska Native…

June 28, 2023

Farm to Early Care and Education in Washington: A Statewide Survey and Report

Dietary habits linked to the incidence of chronic disease are developed early in life. Created to address these habits, Farm to Early Childcare and Education (Farm to ECE) initiatives incorporate local food, agriculture, and nutrition through experiential learning opportunities in early childcare settings, and have been shown to improve children’s dietary habits and cultivate a…

June 27, 2023

Mobilizing Community to Support BIPOC Farms (Washington Farmland Trust Team 2)

The team partnered with Washington Farmland Trust (WFT) to research ways to mobilize federal, state, and local support for BIPOC farmers in emergency weather situations. The team also developed a set of videos to connect farmers with federal emergency assistance, showcase historical information about BIPOC farmers, and increase online exposure to WFT’s volunteer programs. Community…

Mobilizing Community to Support BIPOC Farms (Washington Farmland Trust Team 1)

The team partnered with Washington Farmland Trust to create emergency weather resources for BIPOC farmers. Deliverables include Instagram reels giving context to the inequities that this population faces, as well as an informational poster that guides farmers on what to do before, during, and after an emergency weather event. Community Partner: Rosemary Martin, Washington Farmland…

Conducting Surveys to Better Understand Urban Garden Contamination Across King County (Soil Health Justice Initiative Team 3)

In collaboration with two other partner teams, these students worked with the Soil Health Justice Initiative, an ongoing research project that examines soil health contamination in King County community growing spaces. The group helped administer and analyze the results of a survey to assess how gardeners are exposed to soil contaminants in urban gardens. In…

Conducting Surveys to Better Understand Urban Garden Contamination Across King County (Soil Health Justice Initiative Team 2)

In collaboration with two other partner teams, these students worked with the Soil Health Justice Initiative, an ongoing research project led by Dr. Melanie Malone that examines soil health contamination in King County community growing spaces. The group helped advertise, administer, and analyze the results of a robust survey seeking to capture how gardeners interact…