There is increasing awareness that community food policies and programs can address issues of equity, sustainability, profitability, and resilience in food systems. Community coalitions, local governments, food policy councils, cooperative extension, and other stakeholders seek to improve community food systems through policy and programmatic development. However, these groups often do not know what types of policy or program models exist to help achieve their goals. This research identified expert consensus on three important topics related to community food systems resilience: (1) values that should guide adopting and implementing poli­cies and programs to facilitate community food systems resilience, (2) benefits of adopting policies and programs that support community food sys­tems resilience, and (3) policies, programs, and ini­tiatives that are indicators of resilience. These indi­cators can be used to assess the resilience of communities and to help communities identify pol­icy options to achieve specific goals and objectives. The results of this study were used to create a com­munity food system resilience audit tool that com­munity groups can use to assess the current resili­ency of their food system, identify priorities, and set goals. The audit tool focuses on seven core themes that contribute to community food systems resilience: agricultural and ecological sustainability, community health, community self-reliance, dis­tributive and democratic leadership, focus on the farmer and food maker, food justice, and place-based economics. The individual indicators in this audit tool provide specific policies and practices that can be adopted by local governments, sup­ported by cooperative extension agents, and advo­cated for by food policy councils and community-based organizations.

This publication provides an overview of the benefits of urban food production, along with potential challenges that can limit the success of these operations. Written by Alicia Papanek, Catherine G. Campbell, and Hannah Wooten, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, January 2023.

Families with low income are faced with various intertwined public health issues, including low literacy levels and nutrition insecurity. Although numerous studies have detailed effective methodologies for delivering literacy or nutrition education in silos, there is no protocol for developing, implementing, and evaluating a brief, interdisciplinary literacy and nutrition education program for parent–child dyads. Books & Cooks, a seven-week literacy and nutrition education program aimed at improving families’ literacy and nutrition capacities by providing parents with strategies to assist their child, facilitating interactive education lessons, and providing take-home reflection activities, was piloted during the 2023–2024 school year. Results informed the protocol for current and future cohorts in efforts to further enhance outcomes. Family literacy capacity is addressed using evidence-based, grade-appropriate literacy techniques and evaluated using validated and internally developed instruments. Family nutrition capacity is addressed through education and cooking lessons based on the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate and evaluated using validated instruments. Results will be analyzed by assessing change from baseline to post-program completion, addressing potential confounding factors, and utilizing randomization. By detailing the development, implementation, and evaluation of this study, we anticipate that this protocol will provide guidance for cross-functional collaborators who seek to address various public health concerns in at-risk populations.

This document aims to enhance understanding of how community food environments (CFEs) are assessed and to present common strategies used by nonprofits, community organizations, Extension, and local and federal governments to improve CFEs. Written by Alicia Papanek, Catherine G. Campbell, and Karla Shelnutt, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, May 2023.

Collaboration among nonprofits, commercial enti­ties, state Extension offices, and governmental agencies is crucial for improving and sustaining food and nutrition security at the state and local levels. This study examines the landscape of 904 food and agricultural nonprofit organizations (FANOs) operating in Florida in 2019 to determine their scope, role in the food supply chain, and potential collaboration opportunities with allied organizations. FANOs primarily address the pre­production and distribution stages of the supply chain. Aligned goals and initiatives between FANOs and Extension programs revealed a wealth of opportunities for collaboration that would ensure the continuity of food systems and sustain­able resource use in Florida, despite existing com­petition between allied organizations and FANOs.

This publication reviews types of food environment disparities and their implications for food and nutrition security. Written by Alicia Papanek, Catherine G. Campbell, and Karla Shelnutt, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, May 2023.