BACKGROUND: Research studies have shown that poor diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco, and being exposed to certain environmental factors are the leading causes of chronic conditions. This has in turn created an increase in the rates of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and different types of cancers across all communities, including Asian Pacific Americans. Cancer, heart disease, and stroke are the top three leading causes of death for Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. The creation of healthy food access and active living policies and initiatives is one approach to tackling the leading risk factors of these chronic conditions.

The “Planting Seeds of Change” report draws on results from an innovative technique called Photovoice involving 28 community members, community-level data of 308 surveys, as well as extensive input from key stakeholders.

KEY FINDINGS: The report highlights the complexity of engaging APAs in healthy eating and active living efforts. It discusses the opportunities and challenges of a community who has a long agricultural history and tie to the food system as well as the issues that come with living as an immigrant and resident in a large Metropolitan area. Key findings include:

Food choices are impacted by cost, convenience, time, and accessibility of healthy and unhealthy foods in communities;
Agrarian histories and culturally relevant exercises continue in the U.S.;
Family togetherness and community cohesion is inherent in social gatherings centered on food;
More open and public community spaces are needed;
The built and physical environment has a strong influence on a person’s ability to engage in healthy lifestyles.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Taken all of this, we prioritized the development of community gardens for Asian Pacific Americans as a strategy for (1) increasing access to healthy food, physical activity, and open, public space, (2) providing opportunities for multigenerational collaboration and leadership development, and (3) using it as a tool for building upon the strengths and experiences of our communities. 64% of survey respondents indicated that there is a high or very high need for community gardens in their neighborhoods.

Policy recommendations call for the increasing initiatives, funding, and training that:

Support and integrate cultural competency into community gardens’ outreach, planning, and growing
Utilize stewardship programs to increase creation of community gardens
Promote community gardens as a model for leadership development programs.

Practice recommendations call for incorporating best practices that community gardens can use to increase participation of APAs in healthy food and active living initiatives such as:

Site assessments
Intensive planning sessions with community
Workshops on traditional methods and local sustainability
Multisectoral collaboration
Sustainability plans