One of my research interests is how to increase and promote healthy consumption among vulnerable populations (i.e., kids, low-income individuals, and refugees). I have been working with Haymaker Farmers’ Market in Kent, OH on the Power of Produce kids program, which is a program that encourages kids to try and learn about fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. I help them design and assess the success of the program. With my help, they use the data and results to secure future funding for the program.

They are a great community partner and we have been tracking the effectiveness of this program at the market since 2022. We hope to disseminate the results of this intervention and share them with other farmers’ markets, stakeholders, academics, and policymakers. We hope that through implementing this program at farmers’ markets around the country, children will have more knowledge about and a positive attitude toward fresh produce, which will lead to healthy eating.