The Farmers Market Food Navigator Program
The Farmers Market Food Navigator Program is a direct education and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change intervention designed to increase use of farmers markets to purchase affordable produce, increase frequency of vegetables consumed by farmers market shoppers, and improve access to farmers markets through PSE initiatives. The program follows a social ecological framework and has four key components:
- Conduct community outreach to build awareness of farmers markets and increase awareness of the food assistance programs available
- Work with farmers market managers and vendors to implement policy, systems, and environmental changes that are supportive of healthy behaviors
- Help shoppers effectively use their food budgets at farmers markets through tours that may include introductions to vendors, tips, and support
- Provide resources and experiential nutrition education to shoppers at farmers markets, including tastings and cooking demonstrations
Food Navigators attend a one-day training and are equipped with a program Playbook that provides direction on how to carry out each of the four key components of their role, as well as provides guidance to farmers market managers and community partner organizations.
Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Food Insecurity/Food Assistance, Other: Food Resource Management
Intervention Type: Direct Education, PSE Change