Last summer, kids and teens at five partner sites in West Florida participated in the AdventHealth Food is Health® program. They attended classes where they learned the importance of eating healthy and staying active, taste tested fruits and vegetables with a focus on locally grown, and each week they took home a bag of fresh produce to enjoy with their families.
AdventHealth partnered with the UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program (FNP) to provide the classroom instruction, and with Nichole Dube (founder of Dube’s Farm and Market, and a new nonprofit, Access to Fresh) for the produce. During the six-week program, the Dube Family delivered 400 bags per week, funded by the healthcare network, totaling 19,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables from their farm.
“When the students are in a group setting, it’s a little less scary to try new foods because their friend might taste it and like it, so they’re influenced to try and taste something really good.” – Nichole Dube of Dube’s Farm and Market
AdventHealth Food is Health® began in West Florida in 2016, offering health education classes and screenings, and fresh fruits and vegetables, to improve the overall wellness of adults with limited access to healthier food options. The youth version of the program began in 2021.
