Community Science
In 2026, Valley Verde will launch two projects that rely on community science to ensure community needs are heard and understood. As part of these projects, community members will engage with scientists to select research topics, collect and analyze data, and write research reports that advance our community's priorities.
Community Needs Assessment
​To gain a deeper understanding of the growing short- and long-term food-related needs in the county, Valley Verde is launching a community needs assessment that involves conducting interviews with residents who are food insecure.
Valley Verde plans to share the results of the assessment widely with interested academic, nonprofit, and government organizations, and apply them in identifying new and strengthening existing collaborative efforts to comprehensively address the county's short- and long-term food-related needs.​​​
Food System Transformation
Multiple sustainable and unsustainable trends shape the future development of our food system. Sustainable trends push our food system toward access for all to nutritious and affordable food, while minimizing environmental impact. Unsustainable trends push our food system toward environmental degradation, low-nutrition diets, and social inequalities.​
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Valley Verde is launching a research project that involves identifying the trends shaping our food system.
Would you like to participate in assessing community needs or identifying and tracking food system trends?
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Contact us to join Valley Verde's community science research group.​