Nutrition security
Sustaining Health, Strengthening Futures
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines nutrition security as ensuring that all Americans have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being. According to the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps data for Archuleta County, 11% of the population (nearly 1,500 individuals) in 2020 lacked adequate access to food in Archuleta County, as compared to 8% in Colorado overall. Toward addressing food and nutrition insecurity, Healthy Archuleta continues to center equity in its healthy eating efforts by supporting individuals and families to access health promoting foods, nutrition education, food purchasing/preparation skills, and nutrition counseling. Eating nutritious foods takes more than the individual, it takes a community. Healthy Archuleta uses a community-based food system approach to addressing nutrition security.
Food Access & Security
Food pantry clients experiencing barriers to healthy food options spoke and we listened. Healthy Archuleta is actively working to increase access to both local and non-local foods for community members utilizing food pantries. Currently, seven food pantries operate within an informal network meeting monthly alongside the Food Distribution Center (FDC) Coordinator to share resources and learning related to food access and security. These pantries receive food through partnerships with the regional food bank, local grocery stores (via rescued foods), individual donations, and Healthy Archuleta’s FDC—a climate-controlled facility for receiving, storing and distributing food procured by Healthy Archuleta for the food pantries. For information about food pantry operating hours and partner food organizations in Archuleta County, please click HERE.
Food pantry clients experiencing barriers to healthy food options spoke and we listened. Healthy Archuleta is actively working to increase access to both local and non-local foods for community members utilizing food pantries. Currently, seven food pantries operate within an informal network meeting monthly alongside the Food Distribution Center (FDC) Coordinator to share resources and learning related to food access and security. These pantries receive food through partnerships with the regional food bank, local grocery stores (via rescued foods), individual donations, and Healthy Archuleta’s FDC—a climate-controlled facility for receiving, storing and distributing food procured by Healthy Archuleta for the food pantries. For information about food pantry operating hours and partner food organizations in Archuleta County, please click HERE.
Nutrition Education and Counseling
Healthy Archuleta is committed to providing relevant and responsive nutrition education and counseling to our community. We partner with nutritionists and dietitians to offer programming at various locations in the community. Research supports the effectiveness of nutrition interventions and counseling provided by nutrition professionals as part of a health care team. During the pandemic, we helped a local clinic establish a Food/Nutrition Resource Navigator to support community members with nutrition counseling. This navigator connected individuals with a network of Colorado dietitians dedicated to health equity and expanding nutrition counseling services in rural areas like Archuleta County. This effort proved beneficial and will be further explored in the future with available funding. Meanwhile, a list of dietitians offering telehealth counseling services, prepared for Healthy Archuleta by a Colorado-based dietitian, is available. Additionally, Healthy Archuleta is exploring a partnership with the Food Pantry Network and local clinics to help connect clients and patients experiencing food and nutrition insecurity with free and locally grown fruits and vegetables in concert with nutrition counseling services, thereby reducing nutrition-related health disparities.
Healthy Archuleta is committed to providing relevant and responsive nutrition education and counseling to our community. We partner with nutritionists and dietitians to offer programming at various locations in the community. Research supports the effectiveness of nutrition interventions and counseling provided by nutrition professionals as part of a health care team. During the pandemic, we helped a local clinic establish a Food/Nutrition Resource Navigator to support community members with nutrition counseling. This navigator connected individuals with a network of Colorado dietitians dedicated to health equity and expanding nutrition counseling services in rural areas like Archuleta County. This effort proved beneficial and will be further explored in the future with available funding. Meanwhile, a list of dietitians offering telehealth counseling services, prepared for Healthy Archuleta by a Colorado-based dietitian, is available. Additionally, Healthy Archuleta is exploring a partnership with the Food Pantry Network and local clinics to help connect clients and patients experiencing food and nutrition insecurity with free and locally grown fruits and vegetables in concert with nutrition counseling services, thereby reducing nutrition-related health disparities.
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Food Production and Supply
Healthy Archuleta collaborates with local growers and producers to increase food production and supply. Our strategic actions aim to increase community access to locally, regionally, and sustainably grown foods from backyards, community gardens (Vista Lake Community Garden and Pagosa Community Garden) and in commercial and institutional settings. We encourage and support backyard growers to plant an extra row of produce to share with our neighbors who visit the food pantries. Click HERE for more information. |
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Additionally, Healthy Archuleta supports community-led initiatives to increase capacity to grow more food locally, such as the resident-designed community garden at the Vista Lake Park. Growing and producing food is at the heart of our food system. We work to empower community members to build and sustain their food growing and producing capacity in Archuleta County. For information and resources related to growing food, please click HERE.
In 2025, we launched a Nutrition and Food System Awareness Campaign, utilizing nine key messages to educate and encourage Archuleta County residents to engage with the local food system. Learn more HERE!
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Food System Learning
Healthy Archuleta uses a food systems approach to advancing food equity. We developed a community-based food system model that guides our initiatives and learning. Recognizing the importance of engaging community in learning about the food system, Healthy Archuleta distributes an artistic rendition of this model in both Spanish and English across various settings and programs. Please connect with us if you would like to receive a copy of this poster for your facility. Additionally, we partner with local schools to educate and bring awareness to high school students about the local food system and encourage their involvement. Healthy Archuleta actively works with partners and community growers and producers to advance the other elements of the food system, including food waste prevention, food safety, resource recovery, and food entrepreneurship. For more information on the different elements of the food system and what Healthy Archuleta is doing to advance work on these elements, please click HERE. |
Assessment, Planning and EvaluationHealthy Archuleta values assessment, planning and evaluation to advance nutrition security. We collaborate closely with food pantries and community members to capture information related to access to food and local food production. Findings from assessments, such as the Nutrition Security|Health Equity assessment, have informed our strategic action and implementation plan. As a learning organization, Healthy Archuleta intentionally integrates evaluation and reflection into all aspects of its work with both partners and community members.
