Community
The Southeast Produce Council is committed to serving our members and our community. In fact, we included this statement in our By-Laws: "We support charitable causes in the Southeastern communities."
Ken Lanhardt was a founding member of the Southeast Produce Council and he spearheaded the effort to share our prosperity by giving back to the community. Therefore, it's only fitting that the Annual Ken Lanhardt Memorial Golf Tournament raises an average of $15,000 each year for our community outreach programs.
Here's an overview of our 2009 Community Outreach Programs:
The Southeast Produce Council & EFNEP
Partners in Better Health
Obesity is a modern day epidemic that affects all facets of society, including children. The prevalence of obesity in children has nearly quadrupled over the past 30 years. Research has shown that childhood obesity commonly tracks into adulthood. More than 20% of children are obese by the time children they reach middle school. Fruits and vegetables play a critical role in the etiology and treatment of several chronic diseases, including obesity.
Americans are encouraged to consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. However, according to the NHANES, children ages 6 to 11 consume an average of 2.1 vegetables and 1.4 fruits per day.
Therefore, a nutrition education program Lucy’s Tasty Treasures was developed with the goal of building awareness and appreciation of fruits and vegetables; and, increasing their consumption.
Lucy’s Tasty Treasures is a television series shown in schools and on SCETV with an innovative blend of education and entertainment. The main character, Lucy, is on a summer assignment, a Treasure Hunt, to locate and learn about fruits and vegetables. Lucy, accompanied by her younger brother, Austin, travels throughout the Southeast, visiting farms, food industries, retail establishments and other sites related to fruits and vegetables. On her trips, Lucy often encounters Charlotte, a classmate who has the same assignment.
Taking a “farm to table” approach, Lucy’s Tasty Treasures also includes segments that show Lucy and her Mom in their home kitchen with the fruits and vegetables Lucy learned about on her trips. Lucy and Mom prepare quick and easy, kid-friendly recipes while discussing nutritional content and food handling practices of the fruits and vegetables.
Prior to program development, three focus group interviews were conducted with 29 children to assess their knowledge about nutrition, and fruits and vegetables. The results were utilized to develop the key educational messages. During the development process, three additional focus group interviews were conducted with 22 children to gather information about educational activity design, format, and characters. Viewer responses have been overwhelming and positive. Preliminary data from 76 students who completed a pretest and posttest indicates that the majority acquire knowledge and skills related to fruit and vegetables and nutrition.
The Lucy’s Tasty Treasures program also includes Tasty Bites segments that are 1-2 minutes in length. These segments are taped in a laboratory, kitchen or outdoors and are designed to educate about different nutrition, diet and health messages. These segments can be used as “teasers” at the beginning of educational classes or can be shown during the morning announcements in schools.
Lucy’s Tasty Treasures has supplementary materials including a Teacher's Guide that supports and extends the learning opportunities and a web site containing video segments, games, recipes, podcasts, and a blog for students.
Click here to visit the South Carolina EFNEP Website
For more information contact:
Katherine L. Cason, Ph.D., R.D.
Professor, State EFNEP Coordinator
State Program Leader for Food Safety and Nutrition
207 Poole Agricultural Center
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634-0316
Phone: 864-656-0539
Fax: 864-656-0775
Email: kcason@Clemson.edu
The selection of sites for Melissa's visits are on a first come first serve basis and our at the soul discretion of SC EFNEP.
