advancing healthy food access through regional partnerships
TRANSCRIPT
Advancing Healthy Food Access Through Regional Collaboration
• Bonnie Hudspeth Neighboring Food Co-op Association• Micha Josephy Cooperative Fund of New England• Faye Conte Hunger Free Vermont
Overview• Introductions• Problem: Food Access in New England• Context & Overview of HFA Program & Work• Food For All Program• Strategic Partnerships• Impact• Replicating the Model: Engaging USDA• What’s Next?• Questions
The Problem: Food Access in New England
Who is Food Insecure?• It only takes one emergency to become food
insecure• Some households more likely to struggle:
– rural households– households with children– households headed by single parents (especially women)– women living alone– Black- and Hispanic-headed households
Why Are People Food Insecure?• Low wages & high unemployment• Household financial crisis• Lack of affordable housing• High energy costs• Transportation barriers• Lack of financial flexibility to capitalize on deals• High cost of nutritious food• Consolidation and relocation of grocery stores• Limited sources of healthy, affordable food
Lessons from Food Co-op History• Industrial Revolution• Concentration of economic
control, unemployment, poverty
• Rochdale Pioneers: Economic democracy, food security
• Vision: Co-op EconomyWhat can our co-ops learn from this history?
The Co-op Advantage in Food Security• Democratic ownership & control• Focus on meeting needs before profit• Develop local skills & assets• Ability to assemble limited resources• Difficult to move or buy-out• Separate community wealth from markets• Mobilize stakeholder loyalty
------------------------------------------------------------------Leaders in HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS
Collaboration to Address a Need• NFCA & CFNE identify opportunity• Food co-ops identify community need• Survey & Case studies: interns from UMASS Co-op
Certificate & Bridgewater State University • Response: Partnerships for program development• Additional partners • Focus: “Food For All” & “Basics”• NFCA facilitates monthly calls to support progress• Learning & resources housed on NFCA’s website
Strategic Partnerships• NFCA – promoting relevance of member co-ops to food security and supporting
success in a competitive environment• CFNE – lending institution helping co-ops address needs of low income communities• Hunger Free Vermont – developing sustainable models for addressing food
security• Creative Partnerships – Ex: New England Farmers Union: supporting programs that
make local, family farmer grown food more accessible• Student Partners – UMASS Economics Department / Certificate Program:
opportunities for hands-on co-op experience for students• Community Service Providers & Food Security Organizations – mission based
partnerships to help address community food security (statewide anti-hunger orgs, local food pantries, etc.)
Resources Created• Planning Timeline• Toolbox • Audit/Program Evaluations• Sample Brochures & Promo• Food For All:
– Structure Document– Checklist for Planning– Community Partner Verification
Food For All Program• Income-based discount
– SNAP/ WIC/ SSI/ Partner Verification• Generally tied to membership• Confidential
– Documentation sign off, not stored– POS ties discount to member #
• Annual recertification• Program is accessible & inclusive• Partnerships are essential
Strategic PartnershipsLocal
Service Agencies Other
Co-ops/ Associat’ns
Anti-Hunger
Advocates
Local SNAP & WIC Offices
Membership
Board
Staff
GM
Participants
Membership
Board
Staff
GM Anti-Hunger
Advocates
Local Service
Agencies
Big PictureStrategic Leadership Both Accountability
Other Co-ops/
Associat’ns
Local SNAP & WIC Offices
Participants
Membership
Board
Staff
GM
Other Co-ops/
Associat’ns
Preparation
Participants
Local Service
Agencies
Anti-Hunger
Advocates
Local SNAP & WIC Offices
Training & Both Program Design Shared Learning
Launch
Membership
Board
Staff
GM
Participants
Local Service
Agencies
Anti-Hunger
Advocates
Other Co-ops/
Associat’ns
Local SNAP & WIC Offices
Implementation Both Promotion
Co-ops: Changed Community Perception
Impact• HFA Program helped over 1,000 low-income households access co-
ops’ healthy food • Supported 8 NFCA food co-ops to roll out new FFA programs (11
NFCA co-ops with FFA programs)• Promotion of affordable product mix through programs like NCG’s
“Co-op Basics” & Natural Value program with Associated Buyers• Built recognition that food co-ops are valuable partners in addressing
food insecurity• Emphasize the co-op difference in a competitive environment• Ensured that the Food For All programs comply with USDA
regulations
Replicating the Model: Complying with USDA
• Discount many not be offered exclusively to SNAP or WIC clients
• Co-op cannot collect, retain, or share information identifying individuals as a client of SNAP or WIC
• Discounts must be an immediate point-of-sale discount
What’s Next? • Keep learning!• Documented models = easier replication• Resources: Toolkit, audit, promo materials…• Continue evaluation of programs• Start-ups: want HFA programs established • Co-op associations facilitate ongoing
learning, collaboration and partnership
Questions: From You
Any questions about what we presented?
Questions: For You• What challenges do you see making “Food
For All” successful at your co-op?• What are you doing to make your co-op
more accessible that is different?• What would it look like to expand this? • Who are your partners / potential partners?
Learn More & Contact UsWWW.NFCA.COOP/HEALTHYFOODACCESS
Bonnie Hudspeth, [email protected] // www.nfca.coop
Micha Josephy, [email protected] / / www.cooperativefund.org
Faye Conte, [email protected] // www.hungerfreevt.org