Fruits and Veggies in Arizona: What’s Going on?

Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans

Matt Connolly, RD

AzNN Nutritionist

Fruits and Veggies in Arizona: What’s Going on?



• Spend 50% of time as the fruit and veggie coordinator for the state– Coordinate the efforts of the state to increase

consumption of fruits and veggies– Keeper of the Fruits and Veggies More

Matters logo

Fruit and Veggie Coordinator



Fruits and Veggies…Why?

• Why such a push to increase F/V consumption?– Associated with

decreased risk of chronic diseases

– Help maintain calorie balance

– Important nutrients



What is the problem?

• Knowledge1 – In 1991

• About 8% knew to eat at least 5 servings of F/V per day

– In 2004• This number increased

to 40%

• Consumption – did not change

• WHY????

1. From the CDC Guide to Fruit and Vegetable Strategies to Increase Access, Availability and Consumption



National Data 2009



Arizona Data 2009



Nationwide and Arizona Comparison (% consuming 5 or more F/V per day)



2010 Arizona Data• In 2010, 25.2% of Arizonans consumed 5+ fruits and

veggies• Rural = 26.7• Urban = 24.8• Above 185% poverty level = 26.9• On food assistance = 22.4• English = 25.7• Spanish = 18.6• Not Hispanic = 25.8• Hispanic = 21.4



ASTPHND

• The Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors– A non-profit org that develops leaders in

public health• Members work to strengthen policies, programs,

and environments at the state and national levels



ASTPHND

• Mission is to make it possible for everyone to make healthy food choices and achieve healthy, active lifestyles– AzNN’s mission: to provide nutrition education to

Arizona’s SNAP participants and eligibles in an effort to improve healthy lifestyle choices.



ASTPHND

• National council of fruit and veggie coordinators – Comprised of each state’s fruit and veggie

coordinator • Coordinators lead state efforts to increase fruit and

veggie intake • Council’s mission is to provide leadership

opportunities and an organized voice to members across the country



National Fruit and Veggie Alliance (NFVA)

• What is it?– Alliance of public and

private partners– Co-led by partnership

• Center for Disease Control (CDC)

• Produce for better health foundation (PBH)



NFVA Steering Committee • Includes:

– Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

– American Cancer Society– American Diabetes Association– American Frozen Food Institute– American Heart Association– California Department of Public

Health– Canned Food Alliance– Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention– USDA

– National Council of Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Coordinators

– National Alliance for Nutrition and Physical Activity

– National Cancer Institute– Produce for Better Health

Foundation– Produce Marketing Association– The Culinary Institute of

America– United Fresh Produce

Association



F/V Coordinator and CDC

• Strategic plan for Arizona– based on CDC’s Strategies to Increase

Access, Availability and

Consumption– Seven Strategies identified



CDC Strategies• Strategy 1

– promote food policy councils to improve the food environment at the state and local level

• Where we have been: – ADHS employee is a DES hunger

council member– Assessment of current activity

• Where should we go?




– Improve access to retail venues that sell or increase availability of high quality affordable fruits and vegetables in underserved communities

• Where we have been:– Farmers market video– WIC food package change– Light rail




CDC Strategies

• Strategy 3– Include or expand farm-to-where-you-are

programs in all possible venues• Where we have been:

– ADE has specialist– New guidelines released




CDC Strategies

• Strategy 4– Ensure ready access to fruits and vegetables

in worksite foodservice and in food offered at meeting and events

• Where we have been:– Challenges for employees




CDC Strategies

• Strategy 5– Support and promote community and home

gardens• Where we have been

– Community garden at ADHS





– Establish policies to incorporate fruit and vegetable activities into schools

• Where we have been: – Received $15,000 grant to get salad bars into schools– ADE: Fresh Fruit and Veggie Program (FFVP)

» The network provides nutrition ed

materials




CDC Strategies

• Strategy 7– Increase access to fruits and vegetables in

emergency food programs (food banks)• Where we have been:

– Arizona has many gleaning projects» Gleaned goods are used for

food banks and programs




Network Activities

• Food demos, community/school gardens, More Matters classes, and all the activities that network partners do not only fit into the seven strategies in many different ways, they help improve the diets of Arizonans



Summary

• Arizonans need more fruits and vegetables – Especially certain groups of people

• Strategic plan for fruits and vegetables that is based on CDC recommendations to come

• ASTPHND is a great resource for F/V

• Network partners are doing important work to increase fruit and vegetable consumption– Will have a role in the future as well



Questions?

Contact me at:Matt Connolly, RD

Phone: (602) 364-3818

Email: [email protected]

Documents

Fruits and Veggies in Arizona: What’s Going on?