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Oklahoma Flunking in Health—
Can Farmers Help the State Make the Grade?

More than one in four Oklahoma adults is obese, a national health organization said in a new report, “F is for Fat,” released in August.

Oklahoma ranks ninth nationally for percentage of obese adults, says the Trust for America’s Health annual report, with numbers increasing from last year, when the state was ranked 13th.

Oklahoma also ranks #1 in deaths due to heart disease and has high rates of diabetes and other diet-related diseases.

At the same time, only 15% of adults in the state eat the familiar ‘5 a day’ servings of fruits and vegetables, putting Oklahoma dead last in the nation. Less than a quarter of the state’s senior citizens make the grade.

The result is another “F” for Oklahoma, for several health and nutrition indicators rated by the Oklahoma Board of Health.

Oklahomans are flunking the vitamin test too: Less than half get enough vitamin C. Forty percent get enough Vitamin A. Twenty-three percent fall short of the mark for calcium.

One solution may be getting “back to the basics.” Oklahoma farms and gardens can help Oklahomans make the grade, according to a new report from the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Closer to Home: Healthier Food, Farms, and Families in Oklahoma highlights the Oklahoma-grown crops that contain the nutrients that Oklahomans need most.

There’s a particular irony in Oklahoma’s poor dietary performance, says Kerr Center Communications Director Maura McDermott. That’s because many fruits and vegetables that grow well in the Sooner State are loaded with the very nutrients that Oklahomans’ diets are missing.

Not getting enough Vitamin A? Sweet potatoes are packed with it. So are turnip greens, which are also high in Vitamins C and E, and calcium – and Oklahoma grows so much of them that they’re among the state’s top agricultural exports.

When it comes to Vitamin C, hot and sweet peppers, strawberries, and cantaloupe, all crops that grow well in Oklahoma, are good choices.

Whole wheat flour, a product of Oklahoma’s second-highest selling crop, contains high levels of magnesium, potassium, and fiber.

McDermott points to studies showing that taste is the single most important factor influencing shoppers’ decisions. The unbeatable taste of farm-fresh produce makes Oklahoma-grown fruits and vegetables a natural choice for any Oklahoman trying to eat a healthier diet, she says.

Another Kerr Center publication, newly updated, makes finding local food a breeze.

The Oklahoma Food Connection lists Oklahoma farms that sell directly to the public, as well as the crops that they offer. The information is organized both by county and by crop.

Another source of fresh Oklahoma-grown fruits and vegetables is any one of the 41 farmers’ markets registered with the state of Oklahoma.

Many of these markets are open through October and are listed in the Food Connection. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry also distributes information about farmers’ markets in the state.

Parents concerned about their kids’ diets may also want to look into the state Farm-to- School Program, which puts Oklahoma grown produce, such as watermelons and honeydew melons, right where kids eat five days a week – on their lunchroom trays.

“School districts from all over the state are participating,” says the new Farm-to-School Program coordinator Chris Kirby.

Among children, only 14% eat enough fruits and vegetables recommended for good health, and the rate of obesity among kids has quadrupled from the early 70s, according to the USDA.

Both The Food Connection and Closer to Home are available free on the Kerr Center website, www.kerrcenter.com.

Flyers and fact sheets on nutrition and locally grown foods are also available to download, and would be excellent for use in schools or in adult nutrition education classes, says McDermott.

The site also has links to the state farm-to-school program and other programs, such as Tulsa’s new “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” campaign and pamphlet, which lists sources of locally-grown food in the Tulsa area.