Environmental Strategies to Increase Access to Affordable Produce

1. Environmental Strategies to Increase Access to Affordable Produce An Intervention of the New York State Eat Well Play Hard Community Projects

2. Laying a Firm Foundation • Key childhood obesity prevention initiative of NYS DOH • Initiated in 1997 • Integrated philosophy into all programs

3. Laying a Firm Foundation • Currently 15 EWPH Community Projects • Goal: • To coordinate community based resources to establish coalitions and partnerships, leading to sustained environmental and policy changes to reduce risks for chronic diseases beginning in the preschool period.

5. Creating Environmental Change • Increasing access to & utilization of Farmers’ Markets • Securing & utilizing EBT devices at Farmers’ Markets • Utilizing EBT devices in CSAs • Facilitating Farm to Child Care Initiatives • Facilitating Farm to School Initiatives

6. Delaware County Increasing Access to Farmers’ Markets

7. WIC Benefit UtilizationDelaware County 2009 • Open Weekly • 5 vendors • WIC Vegetable & Fruit Checks accepted • Sales expected to increase • Sponsoring organizations 2008 • Open 2 days/month • 2 vendors • Farmers’ Market Coupons accepted • 6.4% increase in FMNP redemption • Farmers’ Market promotion funding • Match funding

8. WIC Benefit UtilizationDelaware County Instrumental Partner Organizations • NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets • Delaware Opportunities WIC Program • Delaware County Office for the Aging • Fairbanks Pharmacy • Wilber Bank (Walton Branch) • Cornell Cooperative Extensions

9. Onondaga & Madison Counties Securing & Utilizing EBT Devices at farmers’ markets

10. Farmers’ Market UsageOnondaga County 2006 • Monthly (Jul-Aug) • 2 farmers • Farmers’ Market Checks accepted 2008 • Weekly (Jun-Oct) • 22% increase in overall sales 2007 • Weekly (Jul-Aug) • Farm Fresh Mobile Market • Food Stamp Benefits (EBT) accepted • 730% increase in overall sales 2009 • Weekly (Jun-Oct) • WIC Vegetable & Fruit Checks accepted

11. Farmers’ Market Usage…Onondaga County

12. Farmers’ Market Usage Onondaga County Instrumental Partner Organizations • Onondaga County WIC Program • Farm Fresh Mobile Market • Regional Farmers’ Market • The Gifford Foundation • Syracuse Healthy Start

13. Food Stamp (EBT) UtilizationMadison County 2007 • Promotional events strengthened relationships & increased attendance • Farmers’ Market Checks accepted • 4.0% decrease in FMNP redemption 2008 • Open Weekly (Jun-Oct) • Food Stamps (EBT) accepted • Credit & Debit Cards accepted • 4.3% increase in FMNP redemption

14. Food Stamp (EBT) UtilizationMadison County Instrumental Partner Organizations • Department of Social Services • Community Action Program • Eat Smart New York • WIC • Just Say Yes to Fruits & Vegetables • Madison County Health Department • Cornell Cooperative Extension • Greater Oneida Chamber of Commerce • Farmers’ Market Federation

15. Keys to Successful Farmers’ Market Initiatives • Identify & Address Key Barriers • Perception that fresh produce is ‘expensive’ • Lack of quality & selection of fresh produce • Lack of transportation • Collaboration • High Traffic Locations • Promotion & Marketing • Incentives • Persistent & Enthusiastic Market Manager • Dependable Volunteers

16. St. Lawrence County Implementing CSA Farm Express Initiatives

17. CSA Farm ExpressSt. Lawrence County 2009 • CSA benefits to low-income families • Repayment of membership fee with EBT benefits Impact • 4 CSA farms • 15 families participating

18. CSA Farm Express Keys to Success • Start small! • Collaborate with strong partner organizations • Provide adequate training for CSA farmers • Financial stability

19. Jefferson & Wayne Counties Facilitating Farm to School initiatives

20. Farm to School InitiativeJefferson County 2007-2008 • Collaborative Partnership Success • Direct purchase • Cost = Open Market Rate directly to farmers Impact • >6,000 pounds of local produce purchased • >4,500 children exposed to fresh locally grown produce in school

21. Farm to School: Harvest WeekWayne County 2007-2008 • Collaborative Partnership Success • 10 school districts • Bushel of produce each day from local farmers • Purchased through local distributor Impact • 50 bushels of local produce purchased • >8,000 children exposed to fresh locally grown produce in school

22. Keys to Successful Farm to School Initiatives • Identify & Address Key Barriers • Lack of Administrative Support • Lack of funding • Inadequate production from local farmers • Commitment of School Food Service Directors • Collaboration with key partners • Persistence in solicitation of farmers • Communication • Promotion • Curriculum integration

23. Schenectady County Facilitating farm to child care initiatives

24. Farm to Child CareSchenectady County • Successful collaboration with the CDCG Veggie Mobile • Opportunity knocks… • Mutual goals • February 2008 Pilot • Expansion into 3 additional child care centers • Serving over 275 underserved children

25. Keys to Successful Farm to Child Care Initiatives • Identify Barriers • Cost, Storage, Delivery • Identify ways to overcome barriers • Facilitate the process • Assist programs in obtaining resources • Collaborate with successful programs • Identify opportunities • Start small!

26. Questions? For more information, please contact: Lisa A. Sweet, RD, CDN Public Health Nutritionist NYS Department of Health LXS28@health.state.ny.us