Environmental Environmental Strategies to Increase Strategies to Increase Access to Affordable Access to Affordable

ProduceProduce

An Intervention of the New York State Eat Well Play Hard Community Projects

Laying a Firm Laying a Firm FoundationFoundation

Key childhood obesity prevention initiative of NYS DOH

Initiated in 1997 Integrated philosophy into all programs

Laying a Firm Laying a Firm FoundationFoundation

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.

Creating Environmental Creating Environmental ChangeChange

Increasing access to & utilization of Farmers’ Markets

Securing & utilizing EBT devices at Farmers’ Markets

Utilizing EBT devices in CSAsFacilitating Farm to Child Care

InitiativesFacilitating Farm to School Initiatives

INCREASING ACCESS TO INCREASING ACCESS TO FARMERS’ MARKETSFARMERS’ MARKETS

Delaware County

WIC Benefit UtilizationWIC Benefit UtilizationDelaware CountyDelaware 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

WIC Benefit UtilizationWIC Benefit UtilizationDelaware CountyDelaware County

Instrumental Partner OrganizationsNYS Department of Agriculture & MarketsDelaware Opportunities WIC ProgramDelaware County Office for the Aging Fairbanks PharmacyWilber Bank (Walton Branch)Cornell Cooperative Extensions

Onondaga & Madison Counties

SECURING & UTILIZING EBT SECURING & UTILIZING EBT DEVICES AT FARMERS’ DEVICES AT FARMERS’ MARKETSMARKETS

2006 Monthly

(Jul-Aug) 2 farmers Farmers’

Market Checks accepted

2008 Weekly (Jun-

Oct) 22% increase

in overall sales

Farmers’ Market UsageFarmers’ Market UsageOnondaga CountyOnondaga County

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

Type 2006 2007 2008

Value of FMNP Checks $376 $2,562 $2,738

Value of Food Stamps (EBT) N/A $25 $270

Cash Purchase $25 $741 $1,045

TOTAL $401 $3,328 $4,053

Farmers’ Market Usage…Farmers’ Market Usage…Onondaga CountyOnondaga County

Instrumental Partner OrganizationsOnondaga County WIC ProgramFarm Fresh Mobile MarketRegional Farmers’ MarketThe Gifford FoundationSyracuse Healthy Start

Farmers’ Market Usage Farmers’ Market Usage Onondaga CountyOnondaga County

Food Stamp (EBT) UtilizationFood Stamp (EBT) UtilizationMadison CountyMadison 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

Food Stamp (EBT) UtilizationFood Stamp (EBT) UtilizationMadison CountyMadison 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

Keys to Successful Keys to Successful Farmers’ Market InitiativesFarmers’ 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

IMPLEMENTING IMPLEMENTING CSA FARM CSA FARM EXPRESS EXPRESS INITIATIVESINITIATIVES

St. Lawrence County

CSA Farm ExpressCSA Farm ExpressSt. Lawrence CountySt. Lawrence County

2009CSA benefits to low-income familiesRepayment of membership fee with

EBT benefitsImpact4 CSA farms15 families participating

Start small!Collaborate with strong partner

organizationsProvide adequate training for CSA

farmersFinancial stability

CSA Farm Express CSA Farm Express Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

FACILITATING FARM TO FACILITATING FARM TO SCHOOL INITIATIVESSCHOOL INITIATIVES

Jefferson & Wayne Counties

Farm to School InitiativeFarm to School InitiativeJefferson CountyJefferson 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

Farm to School: Harvest WeekFarm to School: Harvest WeekWayne CountyWayne 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

Keys to Successful Keys to Successful Farm to School InitiativesFarm 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

FACILITATING FARM TO FACILITATING FARM TO CHILD CARE INITIATIVESCHILD CARE INITIATIVES

Schenectady County

Farm to Child CareFarm to Child CareSchenectady CountySchenectady 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

Keys to Successful Keys to Successful Farm to Child Care InitiativesFarm 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!

Questions?Questions?

For more information, please contact:

Lisa A. Sweet, RD, CDNPublic Health Nutritionist

NYS Department of Health

LXS28@health.state.ny.us