Lessons from the Field: Going Local—Everybody Wins

• Published in: Hawai'i journal of health & social welfare 2020-06, Vol.79 (6 Suppl 2), p.13-18
• Main Authors: Tareg, Aileen C., Reichhardt, Martina L.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2641-5216; 2641-5224

Pacific Islanders suffer from chronic diseases attributed largely to an overconsumption of processed foods. As a response, the CDC-funded Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Go Local Project in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia (population: 12,000) sought to create a food intervention that would not only increase access to fresh, local foods, but benefit food vendors as well for a sustainable effect. For this program, a number of markets were chosen for selling any fresh local produce, meat, and catch. These markets agreed to allow purchasers of healthy local food of a minimum amount to be entered into a monthly raffle. Monthly winners received fresh food gift certificates while participating markets received a gift upon certificate redemption. REACH and partners distributed healthy island recipes and nutrition information at these partner markets. Formative evaluation examined customer and vendor satisfaction through interviews and surveys, and tracking of healthy food purchases and customer demographics were garnered via raffle information. Brief interviews with customers and vendors revealed favorable reactions to the Go Local Project. People enjoyed winning and vendors found satisfaction in promoting health through their businesses.