B'more Healthy Food Systems

Congratulations to our BUD team on their latest publication, entitled "Factors and Perceptions Associated with Post-Pandemic Food Sourcing and Dietary Patterns among Urban Corner Store Customers in Baltimore, Maryland".

The paper examines individual- and household-level factors in a sample of Baltimore community members who regularly shop at corner stores and how these factors are associated with indicators of dietary quality further contextualized by shared lived experiences.

The full paper can be accessed here: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/14/2196

Our team had a lovely week presenting & networking with colleagues from near and far at the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting in Chicago! We’re already looking forward to the next one!

Our wonderful research assistant, Audrey Thomas, MSPH, CHES® (who just graduated with her master's degree!) is currently at the National Rural Grocery Summit 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama and just presented on some of her work with rural Maryland farmers, “Farmers’ Perspectives of a Digital App to Build Direct to Retail Sales Channels in Rural Areas”. Her findings will help inform the development of our BUD app to meet the needs of rural store owners and suppliers in a future planned trial in Charles County, Maryland. Great job, Audrey!

Congratulations to Dr. Michelle M. Estradé on successfully defending her DrPH dissertation today, entitled “Examining Federal Food Assistance Program Participation as a Means of Improving Diet-Related Health Equity for Indigenous Populations in the United States”. It was a beautiful presentation & we look forward to seeing her expand upon this work in her new role at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 🎉

Our latest paper features a glimpse into how we co-generated a mobile app interface with Baltimore community members aimed at improving neighborhood food sourcing.

Check out the full article via MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/11/1723

Our SAFPAS (Support Application for Food PAntrieS) food pantry project protocol was just published in Frontiers in Public Health!

We anticipate that the SAFPAS mobile application will improve alignment in the supply and demand for healthy foods among food pantry neighbors, food pantry staff and volunteers, and city agencies which supply food in Baltimore.

Check out the full article below, and take a look at our website for more information about the project:

Article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1340707/full?utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field&journalName=Frontiers_in_Public_Health&id=1340707

Website: https://healthyfoodsystem.net/projects/support-application-for-food-pantries-safpas/

Support Application for Food Pantries (SAFPAS) - Healthy Food Systems Support Application for Food Pantries (SAFPAS) Follow us on Instagram Overview Food pantries face many challenges, including recruitment and training of staff/volunteers, communications with staff/volunteers and neighbors, providing neighbor choice, and emergency preparedness. We will develop, imple...

We're excited to share some of the latest formative research findings from our FRESH Project, which works with small independently-owned carryout restaurants in Baltimore and Washington, DC to improve healthy offerings.

Check out the full article linked below, and be sure to head over to Instagram to follow along our FRESH page () for future updates on community events, carryout tours, papers, and more!

The Quality of Menu Offerings in Independently Owned Restaurants in Baltimore, Maryland: Results from Mixed-Methods Formative Research for the FRESH Trial (1) Background: Independently owned restaurants (IORs) are prevalent in under-resourced racial and ethnic minority communities in the US and present a unique setting for public health nutrition interventions. (2) Methods: We conducted 14 in-depth interviews with IOR owners in Baltimore about their p...

Check out our team's latest publication featuring community member and policy maker perspectives on Baltimore City Dollar Stores:

Dollar store policy opportunities in Baltimore City: community member and policy maker perspectives IntroductionThere are currently over 50 dollar stores in Baltimore City, Maryland. Community perceptions of over-saturation and resulting neighborhood impacts have garnered recent attention. A Maryland State Senate Bill required further study of dollar stores in Baltimore City to inform future polic...

Members of our FRESH Project team had a blast at the Oliver Community Farm 2024 Oliver Spring Festival this weekend with The 6th Branch, Holistic Wellness and Health, Baltimore Oliver Community Association, & many other incredible local vendors and organizations!

If you’ve never been to the Oliver Community Farm, we highly recommend visiting The 6th Branch's website (https://the6thbranch.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/the6thbranch/eventRegistration.jsp?event=4373&) to learn more about how you can volunteer through one of their various urban farming programs.

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Samantha Sundermeir, who successfully defended her PhD dissertation today, entitled “Characterizing the Dollar Store Food Environment to Inform Policies to Improve Healthy Food Access in Baltimore” 🎉

We had a great time presenting at today’s inaugural Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center Centerwide Retreat on some of our work to develop a mobile app and agent-based simulation model for cancer-preventive strategies in the Baltimore City food environment!

“If we want more U.S. residents to raise their voices about climate change, focusing on fossil fuels won’t get us there. We need to talk about something much more tangible, immediate, and universal to all: food.”

Check out the latest op-ed from our FRESH team’s very own MPI, Dr. Uriyoán Colón‐Ramos, featured in this week’s Yale Climate Connections 👏🏼

Read the full op-ed here: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/03/we-need-to-talk-about-food-prices/

Join our team at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health!

We're looking for several Research Assistants to work with us on various ongoing food access projects in Baltimore City.

For more information, scan the QR code below or follow this link: https://jobs.jhu.edu/job/Baltimore-Research-Assistant-MD-21205/1131085000/

A local research group is conducting a study about food environments for teens in Baltimore City 🍎🌮🍓🍔

Scan the QR code below or head to bit.ly/b_eat to learn more!

Improving healthy food access in under-resourced communities continues to be a public health challenge. One promising approach has been opening supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods, or emphasizing healthy options within existing food retail stores.

In collaboration with researchers and local organizations across the US, we explored the in-depth experiences of different initiatives and models for opening and sustaining healthy food stores in low-income, urban settings like Baltimore.

➡️More details on ways in which we can work together to improve healthy food access can be found at the link below:
https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/healthy-community-stores-case-study-project-findings/

➡️For Baltimore-specific findings:https://healthyeatingresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mini-Baltimore-Case-Report-FINAL2.pdf

Healthy Eating Research

Healthy Community Stores Case Study Project Findings | Healthy Eating Research Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity | Healthy Community Stores Case Study Project Findings

HAVE SNAP/EBT? Get $30 to purchase fruits & vegetables online with Bmore Fresh! See below for more info:

Online SNAP is ready to go!! Learn more here Bmorefresh.baltimorecity.gov

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is conducting a study about food environments for teens in Baltimore City 🍎🌮🍓🍔

Learn more at http://bit.ly/b_eat!

Check out the latest workshop proceedings from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on "Dietary Patterns to Prevent and Manage Diet-Related Disease Across the Lifespan", with a segment written by Dr. Joel Gittelsohn on some of our team's ongoing work & lessons learned in Baltimore City (Page 8):

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27400/dietary-patterns-to-prevent-and-manage-diet-related-disease-across-the-lifespan?utm_source=HMD+Email+List&utm_campaign=bc6d82fa4e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_08_10_07_41_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-3599385651-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=bc6d82fa4e&mc_eid=c877b50039

Attn: Baltimore Farmers! New Member Applications Are Open!

Read more about dollar stores in Baltimore City in our recent November 2023 report titled, "A description of dollar stores in Baltimore City: Research findings and policy recommendations from structured store observations and community engagement".

This report was shared with Baltimore City Council Members and Maryland State Senator Mary Washington, and outlines our key research findings and policy recommendations.

You can download and share the full report from our website: https://healthyfoodsystem.net/projects/dollar-store/

We’re excited to announce our annual call for new members is now open!

Baltimore City farms and gardens that have been in production for at least one year are invited to apply to join the Farm Alliance’s wonderful network of producers.

Applications are only open once per year and must be submitted by Jan 3, 2024

Application & more info at this link https://farmalliancebaltimore.org/membership/

🌱Please share and spread the word!🌱

✨ Transform Your Leftovers into Delicious Magic!

Featured Recipe: Turkey Granny Smith Apple Sandwich 😋✨🥪🍏

Ready to put your leftovers to the test? Try this exciting and nutritious sandwich! Elevate your classic turkey sandwich with the crisp freshness of apples. 🦃🍎

What's the secret to keeping it looking as good as it tastes? Granny Smith apples! 🍏 Their natural acidity prevents them from browning as quickly after cutting, ensuring your sandwich is delicious and visually appealing. 😋✨

Give it a whirl and savor the delectable crunch! Visit commonthreads.org/recipes 🙌

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! We love this read from The Baltimore Banner on the influence of the Black diaspora on Maryland’s traditional Thanksgiving dishes — check it out below:

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/food-drink/holiday-meal-david-thomas-kara-harris-JDHWCX25JJEAZLBVBXZBAUXALU/?fbclid=PAAabv5nb_yBBSFiPSmlsdJQiRlyQKmYGBlv_7BpxG0OA6oi6yfB7X0j1iKAE_aem_AfVmwS1vZ5IyAWUhcscPb_MTS7BMlkoiF7JQ81el76S7gGWUBZiF-6KnZnJBHnVD1mo

How the Black diaspora will influence your holiday meal When you sit down to a holiday meal this season — particularly in Maryland — there’s a good chance you’ll be eating at least one dish invented or inspired by the Black diaspora.

Sharing from our friends over at the JHU Food Security Coalition:

"We’re delighted to announce that the Hopkins Food Pantry at East Baltimore is open!

The Food Security Coalition has partnered with the Bloomberg School of Public Health, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, and University Health and Well-being to prioritize immediately addressing food insecurity for all Hopkins affiliates as we work to open the Hopkins Food Pantry at East Baltimore. In November 2023, a pop-up food pantry in East Baltimore with limited shopping hours will be open to all Hopkins affiliates.

Location
Bloomberg School of Public Health
615 N. Wolfe St, Suite W1600, Baltimore, MD 21205

Directions
Enter the Bloomberg School from Wolfe Street, turn right, and follow the hall until it dead ends. All JH affiliates will need a valid Hopkins ID to enter the building.

November Shopping Hours
Friday, Nov. 10th 1- 3 pm
Friday, Nov. 17th 12 – 2 pm
Tuesday, Nov. 21st 5 – 7 pm

December Shopping Hours
Friday, Dec. 1st 1- 3 pm
Monday, Dec. 4th 5 – 7 pm
Monday, Dec. 11th 8 – 10 am

Shopping Logistics
Any individual in the JHU community can access the pantry upon submission of a brief form upon arrival. Shopper anonymity is respected. Shoppers are encouraged to bring a reusable bag to carry their nonperishable food and household items, however limited plastic bags will be available.

Contact
For more information about shopping hours, volunteering, and partnership opportunities, please contact [email protected]"

What a wonderful resource for JHU affiliates to have at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health!

If you’re in the neighborhood, head on over to The Franciscan Center of Baltimore for some Halloween festivities tonight!

Dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailer in the U.S. – shouldn’t their food options be keeping up?

The latest groundbreaking report from Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) highlights the role of dollar stores in American communities and offers solutions to enhance healthy food options: https://www.cspinet.org/resource/stretching-dollar

Congratulations to doctoral candidate, Samantha Sundermeir, and the rest of our team for all of the work that went into this report - and a huge thank-you to our neighbors and local policymakers who participated in the community workshops that helped to inform it!

Stretching the dollar: Community-informed opportunities to improve healthy food access through dollar stores Stretching the dollar: Community-informed opportunities to improve healthy food access through dollar storesSHAREShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare with EmailPRINTUpdated: October 24, 2023Nick Fewings / Unsplash.comView Executive SummaryView Full ReportDollar stores are the fast...

Every Wednesday from 3:30-7:30PM at Druid Hill Park! What a great opportunity to shop local & fresh!

✅have you been to the yet⁉️

👉🏿 on us… ‼️

💥come

Hello, neighbors!

As part of our SAFPAS (pronounced "safe-pass") project, we are featuring a to highlight some of the great work being done by food pantries in our area.

This past month, one of our research assistants, Lexi, had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer at The Center for Grace-Full Living in the McElderry Park neighborhood. The Center for Grace-Full Living provides household items and food, including fresh fruits and vegetables! They serve a community meal on Tuesdays, provide produce boxes on Thursdays, and the pantry is open for general food distribution on Fridays from 10-12 PM.

The Center for Grace-Full Living is located at 2424 McElderry Street, Baltimore, Maryland.