Company Description

The East Hollywood Certified Farmers’ Market was created by Thai CDC to improve access to fresh affordable locally-grown fruits and vegetables and encourage healthy behavior among low-income and vulnerable populations in the underserved neighborhood of East Hollywood. It fulfills broader economic development and health promotion goals, such as: Promotes healthy communities and launch an ongoing Healthy Diet Campaign. Supports financial incentives (direct purchasing agreements with restaurateurs), marketing programs, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) that ensures the financial sustainability of farmers. Increases awareness of and access to local food programs and products that enable families to live healthier.
Promoting Healthier Lifestyles
Diabetes and obesity are the top two diseases in the community. Almost a quarter (24.2 percent) of 5th, 7th, and 9th grade children in Hollywood is considered obese.[1] Within the Metro Service Planning Area 4 of Los Angeles County, where East Hollywood is located, 70 percent of adults with diabetes are low-income
almost 80 percent of adults reporting fair/poor health are low-income.[2] According to Census 2000, 35% of residents in East Hollywood live below the poverty line, compared to the state average of 14%. In 2009, 16% of residents and 22% of children age 0-17 in Los Angeles County lived below the federal poverty line.[3] According to a food assessment of the Hollywood area conducted in 2002-03 by the LA Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, only 17% of all the participants surveyed eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, and 38% report eating fruits and vegetables at a rate of less than once per day. The East Hollywood Farmers’ Market (EHFM) will promote access to affordable healthy foods and encourage healthy eating in this underserved community. - See more at: http://thaicdc.org/ourcommunity/east-hollywood-farmers-market/#sthash.lnT2gcTZ.dpuf