Healthy Active Arkansas (HAA), in conjunction with the Arkansas Agriculture Department and Governor Hutchinson, is proud to recognize the important role of the state’s farmers in efforts to improve the health of Arkansans.
Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables each day is key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, and many other diseases. However, many individuals, living in both rural and urban parts of the state, lack places to purchase fresh, and affordable, fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, communities and farmers are working to fill the gap by increasing opportunities for individuals to purchase fresh, locally grown produce.
While traditional outdoor farm stands and markets are still popular, innovative options to connect producers to consumers are growing. These options include a mobile farmers market, such as the Fresh2You Mobile Market that serves the Little Rock area, and online farmers markets, such as the Locally Grown Network, which serves at least 26 areas in Arkansas.
Many HAA partner organizations, as well as communities, are working to increase access to fresh produce across the state. They are working to eliminate food deserts; expanding local garden projects, small farms, school gardens, and urban farming; increasing participation in USDA food programs and Double Up Food Bucks; and increasing the reach of community-based, nutrition education programs.
Healthy Active Arkansas is a 10-year effort to increase the number of Arkansans who are at a healthy weight. There are nine priority areas—including Access to Healthy Foods—that include evidence-based strategies that impact the health of the state.