- Author: Mary L Blackburn
- Author: Katherine Uhde
At risk seniors at three low-income housing sites in Alameda County strengthened their food safety skills, reducing their chances of foodborne illnesses.
The Issue
Seniors with diminished learning and retention capacity, physical impairments, on multiple medicines, and with weakened immune systems are less able to fight foodborne pathogens. Adults over 60 years are more likely to have complications, be hospitalized, and die because of foodborne infections. About 80% of the seniors in the US have at least one chronic condition and 50% at least two. In California, at least 55% of seniors over age 65 suffer from hypertension; 24% from heart disease; 17% diagnosed with cancer; nearly 15% with diabetes, and 10% with asthma. UCCE Alameda Advisor Mary Blackburn's research found up to 40% of low-income housing seniors living with multiple nutrition and lifestyle related chronic diseases. Safe food handling by consumers in their homes and community is among the nutrition recommendations for adults over age 50, and is integral and necessary for a comprehensive healthy living program.
How UC Delivers
In 2014, UCCE Alameda Advisor Mary Blackburn, with a specialist and other advisors, published research on the Make Food Safe for Seniors initiative from ten counties assessing the food safety practices and food behaviors of seniors living with multiple chronic diseases. They developed food safety materials addressing the identified needs, and pilot tested it with over 700 seniors, caregivers, and senior volunteers. In 2019, a UC ANR Master Food Preserver and UC CalFresh Healthy Living staff person conducted safe food handling workshops using the Make Food Safe for Seniors materials with pre- and post-tests. The training reached 80 seniors in three low-income housing sites. Overall, nearly 86% of participants said the training was helpful, and would share food safety information and handouts with friends and neighbors.
The Impact
Research shows seniors have lower levels of knowledge retention compared to young adults, however the results were positive, and showed that Make Food Safe for Seniors participants increased knowledge in multiple areas.
- 32% knew produce, raw meat, poultry, unwashed hands, and insects are sources of harmful bacteria -- compared to 7% at the start
- 32% understood appearance, odor, and taste do not correctly determine if food is safe to eat -- an increase from 14%
- 36% knew washing meat and poultry is not recommended -- an increase from 7%
- 54% knew to use a thermometer to check temperatures of cooked food -- compared to 28% at the start
- 54% knew to leave perishable food un-refrigerated for 2 hours when the room temperature was less than 90 degrees -- compared to 14% at the start
- 67% knew the correct refrigerator temperature (< 40 degrees Fahrenheit) -- an increase from 14%
- 71% knew raw food should be stored below ready-to-eat foods in the refrigerator -- compared to 14% at the start
- 75% knew to leave perishable food un-refrigerated for ONLY one hour when the room temperature was 90 degrees and above -- compared to 46% at the start
Additionally, most participants agreed that in the future they would defrost meats in the refrigerator instead of on the counter or in the sink, clean their hands, use refrigerator and freezer thermometers, cook and store food properly, and check food temperatures. These measured changes demonstrate improvements in understanding and intent to change food handling behaviors. Similar research showed that food safety education improved safe food-handling practices among low-income elders participating in congregate meal programs and home-delivered meal programs. As workshop participants implement the practices they learned it should help reduce incidences of foodborne illness amongst this vulnerable population. In this way, UC ANR is contributing to improved food safety and safeguarding abundant and healthy food for all Californians.
- Author: Kris E. Tollerup
Because of UC ANR's IPM research on spider mites and almonds, 80,000 acres were not treated with miticide, saving $2.2 million and reducing CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by 880,000 pounds.
The Issue
The almond industry in California produces approximately 80% of the world's almond supply and currently consists of approximately 1.2 million bearing and non-bearing acres. In an effort to reduce the risk of economic loss from spider mite damage, producers have adopted the strategy of applying a preventative miticide during the month of May – a period when mite populations typically are well below the economic threshold. During the 2017 growing season, approximately 517,000 acres received at least one miticide application during May with a single miticide, abamectin, accounting for 93% of applications. On almond, the strategy runs contrary to sustainable, integrated pest management (IPM) practices. The preventative sprays adversely affect spider mite natural enemies and forgo making a pesticide application based on monitoring and an economic threshold. Finally, the heavy reliance on abamectin has caused some populations in the mid-San Joaquin Valley to become 16-fold more resistant to the miticide than susceptible populations.
How UC Delivers
UC Cooperative Extension Advisor, Kris Tollerup partnered with the Almond Board of California (ABC) and a large-scale almond producer to conduct applied research evaluating the effectiveness of applying a preventative miticide spray. The large-scale field trials provided almond producers with scientific results showing that the strategy does not provide any benefit. To extend the results to his clientele, Tollerup organized field meetings, consulted with growers andpest control advisers, and gave educational presentations stressing sustainable IPM of spider mites on almond. One client attests, "Tollerup has correctly identified the problem and has spoken out both in public and private about not treating unless economic thresholds have been met. Because of Tollerup's role we have been able to collaborate with farmers to hold off on spring treatments at many ranches and only treat when warranted, which has essentially removed a spray treatment on a vast number of our acres."
The Impact
In formal and informal surveys conducted between Dec 2017 and Nov 2019 pest control advisers reported that approximately 80,000 acres did not receive a preventative miticide application in May of 2018 and 2019 growing season. This represents a reduction in treated acres of approximately 5.5%, a savings of about $2.2 million in miticide and application costs. Moreover, we calculated that eliminating the spray reduced the use of diesel-engine application equipment on approximately 56,000 acres - a reduction in CO2 greenhouse gas emissions of nearly 880,000 pounds. Via this research partnership, UC ANR has begun moving the industry away from preventative miticide applications and toward better IPM practices against spider mites. In the coming growing seasons, we anticipate producers will rapidly adopt better IPM of spider mites. For each 1,000 acres on which preventative sprays are not applied, $27,500 are saved and 15,700 fewer pounds CO2 are emitted. In this way, UC ANR increases agricultural efficiency, profitability, and ecological sustainability, contributing to the public values of promoting economic prosperity in California and protecting California's natural resources.
- Author: David Haviland
- Author: Jhalendra Rijal
- Author: Emily Symmes
As a result of UC ANR's Almond Pest Management Alliance Project, use of mating disruption as an ecologically sustainable pest management practice tripled over two years by growers and pest control advisers who influence over 400,000 acres of almonds in the San Joaquin Valley.
The Issue
Navel orangeworm is the single most important pest of more than 1.3 million acres of almonds in California. It feeds exclusively on almond kernels, rendering them unmarketable. Larvae are also associated with Aspergillus sp. fungi which can produce aflatoxin contamination of kernels at harvest. Control of navel orangeworm is essential to prevent yield losses, off-graded kernels, and kernel contamination.
How UC Delivers
For the past three years, UC ANR Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisors David Haviland, Jhalendra Rijal, and Emily Symmes demonstrated an innovative new approach to worm management called mating disruption to more than 16,000 farmers at more than 120 conferences in 36 cities and 20 counties. This technique is done by releasing large quantities of a chemical pheromone used by female moths to attract males. This disorients males and substantially impairs their ability to locate a mate, leading to reduced offspring. Eight demonstration orchards were established across the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys as part of an Almond Pest Management Alliance grant in conjunction with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, almond farmers, pest control advisers, and the Almond Board of California.
The Impact
More than 93% of participants in the Almond Pest Management Alliance Project stated that information that they received was considered when making pest management decisions, with 81.4% reporting that they changed their practices because of what they learned. In the southern San Joaquin Valley, pest control advisers reported increases in the percentage of their acreage using mating disruption from 16.3% in 2017 to 39.0% in 2019 and, in the northern San Joaquin Valley, from 6.5% in 2017 to 37.7% in 2019. These growers and advisers influence over 400,000 acres of almonds.
Mating disruption is agriculturally efficient and profitable because, at harvest, there was a 47.4% reduction in navel orangeworm damage on average across all participating orchards over two years. This increased crop value by more than $250 per acre, which is more than twice the cost of employing this novel management technique.
In addition, the pheremone-based approach is more sustainable because it reduces reliance on pesticides, reducing groundwater contamination and avoiding resistance problems for pests and diseases, respectively. Recent pesticide use reporting data for Kern County underscored these changes in practice, showing a 26% countywide increase in the adoption of mating disruption from 2017-2018 on the more than 200,000 acres bearing almonds in the county.
In this way, UC ANR increases agricultural efficiency, profitability, and ecological sustainability, contributing to the public values of promoting economic prosperity in California and protecting California's natural resources.
- Author: Marisa Neelon
- Co-PI: Charles Go
- Project 4-H20 Coordinator: Eli Figueroa
Project 4-H20 teen leaders' water promotion campaign at their Contra Costa high school resulted in 52% of students surveyed reporting drinking more water because of the campaign and school district board members deciding to help fund the efforts to promote healthy hydration.
The Issue
Earlier work by Project 4-H20 teens found that average student water consumption at at John Swett High School in Contra Costa County was only 4.92 cups, less than the recommended 8 cups. Research shows that substituting zero calorie water in place of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB's) can help reduce weight gain ultimately reducing the risk of developing chronic disease. Improvements in water access supports healthy hydration and overall health, but education about the health benefits of drinking water, along with creative signage, is necessary to motivate students to continue to hydrate with water over sugar sweetened beverages.
How UC Delivers
Contra Costa County 4-H and Nutrition Family and Consumer Science (NFCS) Advisors and the CalFresh Healthy Living, UC project coordinator continued their collaboration using Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) methods and 4-H youth development practices to address the need for promotion of healthy hydration. Continuing the work of Project 4-H20 from the past two years, the project coordinator recruited five teens from the school to be our "partners" in the project. The teen researchers designed and evaluated a water promotion campaign at their high school. They created signage and produced engaging video clips featuring weekly messages promoting water consumption among their peers. To assess the effectiveness of their efforts, the teens designed and administered a student survey before and after the two-month campaign.
The Impact
Forty-three percent or 220 students of the 512-member student body completed the pre-survey and 46% or 235 students completed the post survey. Students drank water more often during the campaign from the water refilling station as evidenced by their responses and the station water bottle counter. Also, 52% reported drinking more water because they were reminded by the campaign signage and messaging. The three most popular reminders were the posters, water drop floor stickers, and the videos featuring the weekly messages. Students commented that the weekly messages were funny, memorable, and made them think about the health benefits of drinking water.
The teen leaders presented their findings and recommendations to school district board members and received positive feedback and assurance that the board will help fund their efforts to promote healthy hydration. Reflecting on the project year, teen leaders reported that they learned research, teamwork, and communication skills. When asked how they plan to use what they learned, teen leaders shared that they will: “appl[y] my research/data collecting skills,” “b[e] more outspoken in my community,” “hel[p] make my community a better place," and “hel[p] lead the school by teaching about healthy lifestyles.”
Throughout the teen-led research project, the teens demonstrated skills as effective public leaders influencing the health of their school community. UC ANR's youth program equips the next generation for college, successful careers, and to be active participants in their communities, as research underscores the positive outcomes of such YPAR projects including leadership, academic, and career outcomes. In this way, UC ANR increases effective public leaders and contributes to the public value of developing a qualified workforce for California.
- Author: Marcel Horowitz
- Author: Dorina M Espinoza
- Author: Anne Iaccopucci
Participation in California 4-H physical, social and emotional health programming increased 550% since 2009, and 74% of California 4-H youth report having a health-related growth mindset.
The Issue
California youth face increasing challenges to their social, emotional and physical health. Threats to children's physical health include obesity (28.9%), inactivity (76%), inadequate sleep (85%), and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (63%). Social and emotional health is threatened by persistent feelings of sadness (32%), school bullying (28%), and cyberbullying (14%).
How UC Delivers
Following the national mission mandate in 2010, California 4-H formed a statewide Healthy Living Advisory Committee.
Over the past nine years, California 4-H has:
- Increased healthy living project participation by 550%
- Developed five new programs targeting social-emotional needs and four new programs addressing physical needs
- Adopted a 4-H Water Policy
- Trained volunteers in Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Trained 127 youth as Healthy Living Leaders in 2018
- Provided health-focused expertise, guidance, and education to local, regional, and national groups
- Developed an online repository of health-focused resources for educators
- Integrated healthy living education into camp programming, state field days, state leaders conferences, and 4-H Thrive leadership trainings
The Impact
“I think mentally [4-H's Mindfulness camp] truly changed my mindset completely on my life and how I take care of my body as well as taking care of the people around me. And now continuing some of the techniques learned at the camp, I think I have become significantly happier with my life.” -- 2018 Mindfulness camp youth participant
Seventy four percent of 4-H youth report having a health-related growth mindset: 75% report getting adequate sleep; 83% report eating breakfast, 85% report eating family meals, and 73% pay attention to water intake.
Further, 90% of youth report encouraging friends to make responsible choices. Youth report aversion to engaging in risky behaviors such as texting and driving (96%), riding a bike without a helmet (78%), not wearing a seatbelt (96%), and someone their age drinking alcohol (97%), smoking (99%), or taking drugs (98%).
4-Her's report positive food preparation skills such as following a recipe (82%), using measuring equipment (90%), knife safety (91%), heat safety (87%), and cleanliness (75%). In all of these ways, UC ANR improves health for all as well as community health and wellness, contributing to the public value of promoting healthy people and communities.
As the California 4-H Healthy Living Advisory Committee enters its tenth year, the team continues to prioritize emerging challenges. With anxiety, attention deficits, stress, and suicide on the rise, a continued focus on addressing these issues with new curriculum and training will be prioritized. Seeking additional opportunities for cross-program integration with other UC ANR statewide programs like CalFresh Healthy Living, UC will further help to address poor nutrition and physical inactivity concerns. Staff and volunteer development will strengthen all 4-H programs so that adequate sleep, time outdoors, and social interactions are woven into existing programming.
