A farmer-designed food assistance pilot program

Top Things to Know

Community-designed programs may strengthen acceptability and cultural relevance.

FIM efforts can potentially support both participant wellbeing and local food economies.

Future work should assess scalability and long-term outcomes.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This community-based participatory research pilot evaluated a farmer-designed food assistance program serving 20 homebound older adults in rural Mississippi. The intervention provided weekly deliveries of culturally familiar foods and recipes developed in collaboration with local BIPOC farmers. Participants reported strong satisfaction, improved food access, increased community connection, and positive changes in food-related behaviors. Farmers also reported expanded markets and more predictable income. The study highlights the feasibility of combining food-access goals with local agricultural development, although the small sample limits conclusions about health effects.