Farmers markets in low-income communities webinar August 29, 2013

Speaker 1: Mukethe Kawinzi, Project Coordinator, The Food Trust

Farmers markets are an effective means to bring fresh and healthy means to under served neighborhoods.
TFT operate 25 markets and support more.
Most important criteria in establishing markets in low-income areas:
1. Strategic site selection
Intersecting criteria: high traffic area, low access to fresh fruits and veg,
2. Community Partners
Wide selection of types, help with logistical and demographic support. Help with marketing.
3. Food Assistance Programs
Critical to success of FMs; half of farmers sales at times are benefit dollars
Their Huntington Park Farmers Market ( with 1 farmer) is a good example of organizing to ensure community involvement.
TFT surveys their shoppers every year and monitor sales, both in benefit sales and other sales.

Speaker 2:
Oren Hesterman – Fair Food Network

Double Up Food Bucks: Monetary incentive strategy
Purpose of DUFB is to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of incentives, while supporting farmers and inform policy.
2009 Detroit first project was called Mobucks (Motown Bucks)
5 FMs, including Eastern Market
26,000 SNAP and 10,600 in MoBucks, Year one
Year 2 expanded beyond Detroit, changed the name to DUFB
Short FFN YouTube video about program available on FFN YouTube channel
In 2013: DUFB serving 100 FMs in MI and Northern OH
2012: Reached almost 2 million dollars in SNAP and DUFB sales at those markets
Good evaluation is key: check out the DUFB website
80% SNAP shoppers are buying more varieties
1200 farmers statewide participating: 83% are making more money because of the DUFB
FFN, MU, WW and RoC released a cluster analysis of incentives in 2013.

Speaker #3: Jen O’Brien FMC

SNAP: 16.6 million spent at FMs in 2011. But only .O2 % of SNAP sales
Only 3500 of 8000 FMs are SNAP authorized in 2012
2 main goals in regards to FMs:
That those with SNAP access are maximizing their program
Closing the gap: more markets need to be authorized
SNAP is not the only goal for a market in a low income community: market characteristics are often diverse when serving low income communities
Many funding opportunities for markets to expand access through USDA grants (as long as the Farm Bill is passed!)
Much innovative work has been done with FMPP funding ( see FMC report) and with specialty crop grants at state level. (Low income veterans are the subject of a specialty crop project in Bridgeport Connecticut)