1. Results  Over half of parents said there is no place in their neighborhood to buy fresh fruit or vegetables.  Eight out of ten parents purchase food at Harvey’s in a typical week and over 40% say Harvey’s is where they most often shop for groceries.  65% of parents purchase fresh or frozen vegetables (not canned) for their children while shopping.  69% of parents purchase fresh or frozen fruit vegetables for their children while shopping.  Over 90% say playing outside is one form of physical exercise their children participate in on a regular basis.  About half of parents responding to the survey prepare at least 6 or 7 of their family’s evening meals at home each week.  Nine out of ten parents say their children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, including recess and physical education classes at school.  Two thirds of parents believe their children get enough physical exercise. Special Thanks To: Cook County Family Connection, Cook County School System, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for their support in this project. Conclusion Most parents purchase fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables for their children on a weekly basis. Preparing evening meals at home is a pattern for most parents. When children spend their own money on food they typically buy chips, sodas, and candy. Harvey’s it the grocer of choice for parents who responded to this survey. Parents suggest their children would get more exercise if there were parks or recreation areas closer or areas to play in their neighborhood. In sum, the findings suggest that there is room to grow farmers markets and related efforts to make fresh produce available to residents in their neighborhoods. Purpose of the Study The goal of this study was to understand whether parents in Cook County were making nutritious food choices and whether they had access to healthy, affordable, fresh food in their community. A review of literature suggests that because of the attention given to accessibility to healthy foods in cities relatively little is known about this topic in rural communities. The surveys were also used to gather a pool of respondents willing to participate in future focus groups and in-depth interviews by including reply cards with the surveys. Abstract Cook County, Georgia, is defined by its fertile soil, warm climate and rich agricultural heritage. However the county is one of the ten poorest in Georgia with a per capita income under $20,000 and two-thirds of all students qualifying for free or reduced-price school lunches. The obesity rate tops 29 percent and the diabetes rate exceeds 9 percent, both of which are higher than the state average. Parents of children in Cook County Schools were surveyed in May 2010 and again in December 2010 regarding the food choices they make for themselves and their families. In Cook County there are two small chain supermarkets and several convenience stores, limiting the access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Our findings indicate that such variables as the pricing of foods, availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, and overall quality of food were of great importance to parents. However, only a small number of parents drove out of town to get groceries for their families. Method  Surveys were created through the collective efforts of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities (HKHC) program director of Cook County Family Connection and VSU researchers. Some of the questions included in the survey were taken from research produced by other HKHC programs in the U.S.  The survey was reviewed and approved by Valdosta State University’s Institutional Review Board.  A total of 3,000 surveys were distributed to children in the Cook County School System in May 2010 with instructions to take the surveys home to their parent(s).  Each survey packet included a cover letter explaining the purpose of the survey, a pre-addressed business- reply envelope to conveniently return the survey to the researchers and a reply card.  The survey was also posted on the Internet via Survey Monkey, to facilitate convenient return of completed surveys.  In December 2010 during the Toys for Cook Kids event, another 350 surveys were distributed to eligible parents as part of the event.  Data from this study were analyzed and findings were reported to Cook County Family Connection to present to their collaborative partners. Parents’ Access to Healthy Food Choices In Cook County, Georgia R. Garrett White Faculty Mentor: Dr. Chet Ballard Department: Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice Fig. 3) Top 5 vegetables purchased by parents for children Fig. 4) Top 5 fruits purchased by parents for children Fig. 1) Detailed image of Cook County, Georgia Fig. 2) Cook County in relation to state of Georgia A Brief Profile of Cook County Health Issues Related to Nutrition and Physical Activity Georgia Department of Education (2010); South Health District Annual Report (2008) Fig. 2 75 Lenox Sparks Adel 41 Cecil Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Fig. 4