Abstract
Kentucky’s older adult health is poorly ranked as 48th in the nation. Despite the well- known health benefits of consuming a diet rich in plant-derived phytonutrients, daily fruit and vegetable consumption by Kentucky older adults is low. To promote consumption of phytonutrient-rich blackberries the BerryCare Cooperative Extension program was launched at a rural Kentucky senior center. The program provided a blackberry garden consisting of forty thornless semi-erect blackberry bushes, six blackberry-themed education lessons and recipe cards. Data collection included interviews with older adults, observation of older adults, plate waste study, anthropometric measurements and a demographic survey. Participants were predominantly prehypertensive non-Hispanic females in the overweight/obese category (n=28). Interviews (n=11) and observation revealed excitement, gratitude, and enjoyment over the blackberries but not for the lessons. The discussions about blackberries did however increase socialization among older adults by fostering conversations across social cliques about gardening and food memories. BerryCare is a low-cost, sustainable, meaningful program that can be replicated in other settings.

Keywords: older adults, nutrition education, blackberries, garden, rural.