Healthy Food Systems | Extension | University of Nevada, Reno

The Healthy Food Systems Program works to increase access to and knowledge about healthy foods within the community through direct education and policy, systems, and environmental changes. The program focuses on local food production, food preparation and processing, nutrition, and food security to successfully educate the community on how food systems influence health.

Garden-based Nutrition Education

We teach participants of all ages how to grow their own affordable nutrient-dense foods.

Sites include: Preschools, senior centers, correctional facilities, residential centers, and parks and recreational facilities
Populations include: Preschoolers, women under correctional supervision, and older adults

SNAP Into Farm Fresh Foods

squash, potatoes, eggplant and cauliflower at a booth at a farmers market

The SNAP Into Farm Fresh Foods program provides nutrition education to SNAP-eligible participants teaching them how to use their federal benefits at farmers markets and provides technical assistance to local farmers market managers and vendors seeking to become SNAP authorized and implement SNAP friendliness best practices.

Sites include: Low-income community residential centers, WIC clinics, and farmers markets
Populations we currently work with: SNAP recipients of all ages

Food Preservation

canning cucumber, carrots and onion in jar

We teach various food preservation methods and techniques while emphasizing safety. Recipes are created and designed depending on the season.

Sites include: Las Vegas Lifelong Learning Center Extension campus and online
Populations include: open to the general public of all ages

Read more about the food preservation program

The Southern Nevada Food Council (SNFC)

The Southern Nevada Food Council leverages the collective resources, expertise and passion of Southern Nevadans to influence the creation of equitable and sustainable food environment through education and policy.

Council Values: Health-Promoting, sustainable, resilient, diverse in size and scale, geography, culture and choice, fair, economically balanced, transparent
Get Involved: Join us for meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month

News Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...
Home Feeds Nevada: Program and Impacts Home Feeds Nevada helps food-insecure families access fresh produce, protein and dairy items grown by Nevada farmers through food bank-supported pantries across the state. Malik, S; Katrzhyan, H 2025, University of Nevada, Reno Extension, FS-25-31
Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program In 2021, USDA launched the $900M Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program, a key step in transforming food systems, with participation from every state. Of this, $691M funds were directly invested in farmers, producing a $1.53B local economic impact! This program funded Home Feeds Nevada to support our farmers. Malik, S; Katrzhyan, H 2025, University of Nevada, Reno Extension, FS-25-13
Nevada Farmers Markets Needs Assessment Discover the keys to unlocking Nevada's vibrant farmers! Farmers markets foster community engagement and support local agriculture, but many struggle with consumer outreach and marketing. This assessment unveils crucial insights into how to amplify their impact and nourish communities across the Silver State. Park, S.Y., Christiansen, E., Yun, G.W., Malik, S., Lindsay, A., Aldea, B., Purnell, S., Miller, A., Villasenor, R., Andrews, A., and Felts., T. 2024, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, SP-24-01

Learn more about the program's team

Sabina Malik

Program Leader & Contact

Helenna Katrzhyan

Program Leader

CJ Kelley

Program Leader

Noah Scott

Team Member

Noah Scott

Team Member

Noah Scott

Team Member