The Appal-TREE Project, Appalachians Together Restoring the Eating Environment is a joint community-university research and demonstration project to increase access to healthy foods in Eastern Kentucky. This National Institutes of Health research project was awarded to the University of Kentucky in partnership with CFA, with Dr. Mark Swanson as Primary Investigator. The Appal-TREE project is located in Whitesburg, Kentucky and focuses on Letcher County and has now moved into Knott and Harlan Counties.
In the first year, the project worked with community residents and organizations to conduct a community needs assessment, an assets inventory, and general information collection. This focused on community priorities and ideas about ways to increase access to healthy foods in the area. Based on community feedback, Appal-TREE has focused on three major areas including Water First campaigns in local schools, healthy cooking classes for adults, and the USDA Summer Food Service Program.
THE TEAM
Cathryn Forester, cathryn@cfaky.org
Deborah Sexton, deborah@cfaky.org
Paula Bates, paula@cfaky.org