Community-driven program to grow and use more fruits and vegetables in the Mississippi Delta
Official title: A multilevel community engaged intervention to build a sustainable and food economy with food is medicine offerings in the Mississippi Delta to improve minority health and reduce disparities
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11378738 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-engaged program in the Mississippi Delta aims to boost access to fresh produce and use food as medicine to improve health in Black adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $639,187 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018208-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378738 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who live in Bolivar, Washington, or Sunflower counties and are interested in improving diet and health.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals uninterested in lifestyle or dietary changes or those with conditions requiring specialized diets may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with residents in Bolivar, Washington, and Sunflower counties to build a local food economy that makes fruits and vegetables more available and affordable. It combines community input with practical actions to grow, distribute, and use FV as part of daily life and health management. Over 12 months, the study will track changes in fruit and vegetable intake, BMI, HbA1c, and health disparities among participating adults compared to a control group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience healthier eating patterns and improvements in weight and blood sugar, contributing to lower risk of diabetes and heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous community-engaged, food-access interventions have shown potential to improve dietary intake and health measures in similar settings, though this exact approach is innovative for this region.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Economos, Christina D — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Economos, Christina D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.