How Does an Artisan Cooperative Impact Food Perception and Consumer Behaviors? A Rapid Rural Appraisal of Women in East Africa.

We examined the impact of artisan cooperatives on East African women related to changes in consumer perception and food choice. We sought to understand how artisan cooperatives were impacting women's food security, diet, and nutrition. To comprehend the lived experiences of women, a qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted within three purposively selected cooperatives in Rwanda and Kenya. Data was collected using Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) methodologies with three activities. When given a choice, women did not always eat healthier despite having more money and information about healthy diets. Diets shifted to include more sugar and fruit but less vegetables. Culture and location impacted how they cooked, what food was available to them, and what foods they chose to consume. Women explained how a higher income provided greater agency when buying food. It is crucial to comprehend how culture affects a person's diet before implementation of nutrition programs. Further research is needed to determine if cooperatives geared toward women's empowerment and economic sustainability can enhance the nutritional benefits of increased income in culturally relevant ways. This study has implications regarding sustainable development goals with international development programs that utilize locally sourced foods and are culturally viable.

Isolation and sequencing of the spoilage yeast Kregervanrija delftensis.

New sequencing workflows can enable the genomics of microbes isolated from craft beverages. Here, we use hybrid, short, and long-read sequencing to assemble the genome of a yeast isolated from cider, Kregervanrija delftensis NCC-J. The Kregervanrija genus has few genomes available; thus, this contributes to yeast genomics.