SNAP-Ed and Master Gardeners team up for food pantry gardens

Volunteers at Common Place Food Pantry encourage shoppers to take fresh produce grown in the garden and new recipes.

Master Gardeners and SNAP- Education staff collaborated on a project to help address the issue of food access to those in need. There are many “giving gardens” throughout the four counties. The Jr. Master Gardeners garden in Havana and the Peoria Common Place garden and hoop house were identified for this special project designed to create a partnership with local food pantries. While the Master Gardeners focused on growing the food, SNAP-Ed staff worked with Mission of Hope and Common Place food pantries to help make improvements to do things such as display healthful messaging, provide seasonal recipes, and offer additional resources.

One of the greatest challenges identified was helping clients learn how to cook produce from the garden. “We noticed more clients taking fresh vegetables and herbs when we bundled them and included a recipe using those items,” noted Kaitlyn Streitmatter, SNAP-Ed educator.

Both food pantries improved their food environment assessment scores at least 15 points by implementing the SNAP-Ed recommendations. The most important improvement was getting more people to eat fresh produce.