WHO defines food security as, “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life,” (WHO). Currently, it is estimated that fourteen percent of American households are food insecure (Feeding America). According to WHO, food security is built on three pillars; food availability, food access, and food use. Rodale Institute’s Nutritive Quality of Produce from the Rodale Institute’s Vegetable Systems Trial (VST) aims to address each of these three pillars through research, education and extension. The research component of this project will address food availability through comparative analysis of organic versus conventional growing methods that will enhance food safety and quality. The education component will train future professionals in agriculture and nutritional sciences through research and extension experience. And the extension component will teach others how to obtain better access to food and have appropriate knowledge of the food they are consuming. In the past, Rodale Institute has conducted a similar project for the past 35 years through the Farming Systems Trial (FST). FST has done a side-by-side analysis of organic versus conventional grain collecting data on yields, profit, energy input, and greenhouse gases. FST, unlike VST, was directed more towards farmers to educate them on the best farming methods. VST will not only educate farmers, but will focus more on the consumer needs through nutrient analysis. The nutrient analysis will compare organic versus conventional vegetables for vitamin, mineral and protein content of each of the four plants that will be analyzed; lettuce, broccoli, green peppers, and potatoes. Each of these vegetables not only represents a different edible part of the plant anatomy, but vegetables commonly consumed by consumers.