Category Archives: case studies/research

USDA report: Nutrition Assistance in Farmers Markets: Understanding Current Operations

May 2, 2013 – 7:30 am

I have begun to take notes on the 799 page report released by the USDA last week (authored by Westat) on nutrition assistance programs managed at markets/with direct marketing farmers.
This (FM Ops) is the first completed phase of the 3 phases of research. Next will be a FM Client Survey, followed by a survey of organizations administering SNAP at farmers markets.

First, the data collection info:

2 parts to this research of FM Ops

First, 9 markets were interviewed in depth, picked by FNs based on their FNS regions and level of population below poverty level:
Eastern Market, Detroit MI
Peachtree Road, Atlanta GA
South Boston, Boston MA
Clark Park, Philadelphia PA
Market On The Square, Mobile AL
Fort Pierce, Ft. Pierce FL
Wytheville, Wytheville VA
Sitka, Sitka AK
Overland Park, Overland Park KS

Second, 1682 farmers markets and 570 direct marketing farmers were surveyed organized in 4 groups:
1. Those that were SNAP authorized and had redemptions between July 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011-77.4% (FMS) and 68.2% (DMFs) response among this group

2. Those that were SNAP authorized but had no redemptions between July 1,2010 and August 31, 2011- 69% (FMs) and 65% (DMFs) response among this group.

3. Those that were SNAP authorized and had redemptions between July 1, 2007 and August 31, 2010, but had no redemptions after August 31, 2010 – 56.8 % (FMs) response among this group -FNS did not differentiate FMs from DMFs until 2010 so there is no individual data on DMFs.

4. Never SNAP authorized- 51.8% (FMs) response among this group. Same issue as above in tracking DMFs so no numbers for that group in this stratum.

Westat also conducted focus groups with 2 markets in DC and Maryland, with some fascinating input from the participants:
“They don’t all make you feel that way, but sometimes you come across one that makes you feel a little bit like, ‘Oh, another EBT card.’ I don’t think they all do it and it’s not every time, but few and far between. They make you feel a little embarrassed, like a second class citizen.”

Much more to come…..

By Darlene Wolnik | Also posted in Congress, farmers markets, farmers/farming information, food policy, food stamps (SNAP), governments, national food system work, public health, public markets, SNAP, Typology of markets, USDA | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Vermont Feasibility Report

April 25, 2013 – 7:30 am

Very proud to release the Vermont Feasibility Market Currency Report this week. I was contracted last fall to do this work by Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Marketing (VAAFM) in partnership with Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT).

The focus was whether there were opportunities to merge the coupon (FMNP and incentives) and SNAP programs into a universal currency for all of Vermont’s farmers markets (and also ultimately assist CSAs and other direct marketing outlets) in order to streamline the systems now being used.
The final report covers technology issues, market capacity, costs and outreach for the Vermont farmers markets and offers recommendations for streamlining through pilots and policy and further analysis.

This link takes you to my website where the report is listed and also to the NOFA-VT site where it will also be listed.

I am happy to talk about the report or to answer any questions.
Dar

http://www.helpingpublicmarketsgrow.com/vermont-feasibility-report.html

By Darlene Wolnik | Also posted in farmers markets, farmers/farming information, food policy, food stamps (SNAP), market vendors, national food system work, public health, public markets, SNAP, Typology of markets, Where's Dar now? | Tagged | Comments (0)

Market Characteristics

April 8, 2013 – 7:30 am

I have been working on some documents that I hope will help explain markets a little better to the larger food community and to market partners. Since markets remain the most efficient (and democratic) mechanism for anchoring and expanding community food systems, knowing how to build successful versions is more vital than ever.
The link will take you to one document that will share some of the background of how identifying markets by their sets of internal and external characteristics has evolved. By looking at markets structure, product mix and partnerships/projects, researchers are working to show how markets are not “one-size-fits-all” and that describing and sharing markets characteristics will allow communities to choose the most appropriate market type and also to find appropriate measurements when expanding their reach into more organizing scenarios.
And certainly, better definition will help vendors pick the best market for their business goals while also aiding markets that want to understand and work with neighboring markets.
All in all, collecting characteristics from markets is a good idea that’s time has come.

If you have other descriptions to add, send them along and I’ll be happy to discuss.

Market Descriptions

By Darlene Wolnik | Also posted in farmers markets, farmers/farming information, Typology of markets | Tagged | Comments (0)

North American Urban Agricultural Survey

March 11, 2013 – 6:30 am

We are very excited to invite you to participate in a Portland State University survey of organizations and businesses across the US and Canada involved in urban agriculture projects.

Urban agriculture is growing rapidly throughout North America, and we are interested to learn about the experiences of the organizations involved, as well as any obstacles they face. Municipalities have begun to craft new policies and regulations related to urban agriculture, and we hope that the information obtained from this study will help guide city planners and policymakers as they develop policies and programs that effectively meet the needs of practitioners.

This survey is intended for organizations and businesses, big or small, formal or informal, that are engaged in urban agriculture on any scale. The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete. Feel free to email us (urbanagsurvey@pdx.edu) or call Nathan McClintock at 503-725-4064 if you have any questions about the study.

We appreciate your time and interest. We’d also be grateful if you could forward this widely to your urban agriculture networks throughout the US and Canada – we know that there are many exciting urban agriculture initiatives that do not have a web presence, and we would like to hear from all the organizations that are doing this great work. Apologies in advance for cross-postings.

Follow this link to the Survey:
http://survey.qualtrics.com/WRQualtricsSurveyEngine/?SID=SV_9TOXJEPPQKIUSqx&_=1

By Darlene Wolnik | Also posted in community gardens, economic development issues, farmers markets, farmers/farming information, food policy, national food system work | Comments (0)

Bivalve Project from Louisiana

March 7, 2013 – 7:30 am

Fisheries Agent Rusty Gaude has long advocated for more production of the Southern Quahog, Mercenaria campechiensis and sees it as a possible new direction of direct marketing to offset the reduced output of oyster production in Southeast Louisiana. He has served on the New Orleans farmers market board and is advocating that the bivalve test be carried out as part of the Crescent City Supported Fisheries project. This project is done during Lent each year, where Crescent City Farmers Market shoppers can preorder a bag each week of seafood caught by the family fishers at the market.

WAS Nashville Poster

By Darlene Wolnik | Also posted in farmers markets, fishers, New Orleans food | Comments (0)

Governance case study

February 21, 2013 – 7:30 am

In 2012, I did an introductory set of case studies on market structure to begin to get some good information to markets that are struggling with their founding or expansion.
The case studies that I did were of markets that had offered to share their background and systems with me that covered some regularly used types of governance.
However, I would like to stress that often when markets ask for help with their governance, what they really need is help designing appropriate management systems. In other words, if the market community has the ability to understand and even help decide on rules and decisions and manages its organizational risks well, then I often have to conclude that the governance is fine (although sometimes the pool of available advisors to serve is too small or maybe the work is as not clearly defined as it needs to be). What is more often in flux is the design of the management job and a market’s planning for project design.
It is clear that consultants need to have more options for management to match the many types of markets that exist. On top of that, how a market decides on projects to undertake every year should be more comprehensive than a manager’s good idea and willingness of volunteers to help.
I expect to do some work on management systems and project design in 2013 and to be able to share new resources. Until then, take a look at the Market Governance Case Study Report:
HPMG-MG report

By Darlene Wolnik | Also posted in farmers markets, farmers/farming information, Main Street, market vendors, national food system work, public markets, Typology of markets, useful websites | Tagged | Comments (0)

Overview of Paid Market Manager Positions

January 11, 2013 – 7:30 am

I am posting a link to analysis of market manager positions that I did for an organization in Maine.
It was meant to be a simple overview of the types of paid positions that exist in the market world and certainly could be and should be expanded in the future.

HPMG resource site

By Darlene Wolnik | Also posted in farmers markets, FMC, useful websites | Tagged | Comments (4)
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