Continuing Farmers’ Market Interviews
Over the past two weeks, my work has been deeply rooted in community engagement through farmers’ markets across New York City. Every Tuesday, I visit the Elmhurst Hospital Farmers Market in Queens, where I continue to conduct interviews and assist with cooking demonstrations. It’s been a rewarding experience to talk directly with community members and understand their pest management concerns and preferences. On Thursday, July 18th, I had the opportunity to conduct interviews at the Boro Park Greenmarket in Brooklyn. Every Saturday, I head to the Sunset Park Greenmarket, also in Brooklyn.
Key Findings from Interviews
Across these markets, some of the most common pests that people are interested in learning about include:
- Mice
- Bed bugs
- Cockroaches
These insights are crucial for shaping our IPM programming to address the most pressing concerns of the community.
Presentation at CHE – NYC
On Friday, July 26th, I had the honor of attending and presenting my project at the Cornell College of Human Ecology (CHE) in NYC student summer presentations event. This was a fantastic opportunity to share the work I’ve been doing and the impact of our efforts to make IPM programming more accessible and relevant to Spanish-speaking communities. It was also really wonderful to hear what other Cornell students have been working on this summer!
During my presentation, I highlighted the following:
- The ongoing farmers’ market interviews and key insights gathered from these interactions.
- The significance of addressing barriers to participation for Spanish-speaking audiences.
- How our project aims to improve community engagement and education on IPM practices.
Presenting at the CHE event was not only a great way to showcase this project but also to receive valuable feedback and support from fellow students and faculty members.
Looking Ahead
As my internship progresses, I am excited to continue this important work. The insights gathered from these interviews will play a pivotal role in refining our IPM programming, ensuring it is effective and culturally relevant. I look forward to more community interactions and further opportunities to share our progress and findings.
Yvonne Bravo (CCE Farmers Market Nutrition Program Specialist), GrowNYC, and me at the Boro Park Greenmarket