Page Contents
Overview
- Increase knowledge of Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs available at farmers markets
- Increase knowledge of locally grown fruits and vegetables and how to use, cook, and store them
- Increase the use of Market Match and CalFresh redemption vouchers to support low-income shoppers in maximizing their purchasing power
In 2018, SNAC focused on increasing low-income shoppers’ utilization of their food and nutrition program benefits at local Farmers Markets, and in 2019, SNAC expanded its Farmers Market Initiative (FMI) into additional counties and markets, as well as added an on-site navigator component. The navigator model was tested at three markets, and the CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) Navigators were found to address barriers to shopping at farmers markets, including lack of knowledge and comfort using food assistance benefits. CFHL Navigators provided support to shoppers by distributing materials, promoting accepted FNS benefits, providing information on how to use FNS benefits, explaining Market Match, and providing interactive nutrition and health education activities on-site at the market for six consecutive weeks.
Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Food Insecurity/Food Assistance
Intervention Type: PSE Change
Intervention Reach and Adoption
Setting: Farmers markets, Other: SNAC partners – extension offices, social service agencies, local health department, department of aging, WIC
Target Audience: Pregnant/Breastfeeding Women, Parents/Mothers/Fathers, Adults, Older Adults
Race/Ethnicity: Special focus on Latino, Asian, Black or African American, and White communities.
Intervention Components
Intervention Materials
- Get More at the Farmers Market campaign guide
- Get More at the Farmers Market trifold brochure
- Get More at the Farmers Market poster
- Get More at the Farmers Market flyer
- Get More at the Farmers Market postcard
All material listed above are located on the CalFresh website. Documents are listed under Get More at the Farmers Market Toolkit under the Additional CalFresh Toolkits tab.
Intervention Costs
Evidence Summary
The unintended benefits of the intervention include:
- The success in building partnerships, accomplishing shared goals, and strengthening an already robust pilot initiative in the second year
- The agriculture community rallied their support around the initiative
The challenges include:
- SNAC faced difficulty with identifying and recruiting the intended comparison population because, although the identified comparison site served a low-income and food insecure population, many people accessing food were not currently receiving benefits and had not received them in the previous six months
Evidence-based Approach: Practice-tested
Evaluation Indicators
Readiness and Capacity – Short Term (ST) | Changes – Medium Term (MT) | Effectiveness and Maintenance – Long Term (LT) | Population Results (R) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Individual | ||||
Environmental Settings | ST7 | MT5 | ||
Sectors of Influence | MT8 |
ST7: Organizational Partnerships
- ST7a: 19 unfunded partners (markets), 15 local FNS partners, and 34 local organizations that regularly meet, exchange information, and identify and implement mutually reinforcing activities that will contribute to adoption of one or more organizational changes or policies
- ST7b: 19 markets as cooperators, 15 local FNS partners cooperators, 34 local cooperators
MT5: Nutrition Supports
- MT5e: Number of promotional efforts for SNAP bonus programs at the markets (i.e. posters, recipe cards that feature seasonal fruits and vegetables, taste tests) and at community partner organizations (i.e. distribution of customizable flyers and brochures outlining how to use benefits at the market, postcards, social media posts)
- 10,479 promotional materials distributed in all farmers market events (n = 177 events)
- Brochures: 2898
- Posters: 114
- Flyers: 1610
- Postcards: 1633
- Tote bags: 640
- Senior FMNP Flyers: 2516
- Recipe Cards: 737
- Cookbooks: 76
- WIC Nutrition Education Materials: 255
- MT5f: Reach – Number of low-income Californians (i.e. CalFresh participants) who encounter the farmers market on a regular basis and are assumed to be influenced by it. If data source available, also track WIC and Senior Nutrition Program participants.
- 10,479 promotional materials distributed in all farmers market events (n = 177 events)
MT8: Agriculture
- MT8b: Two markets in San Joaquin began offering Market Match and were selected to participate in this pilot as a result. This intervention supported a 10.5% increase in intervention markets accepting market match
Evaluation Materials
- Key Informant Interview Guide
- Market Managers Consumer Intercept Survey
- Comparison Intercept Survey
- Farmers Market Promotional Efforts Activity Log Tracker
- Farmers Market Promotional Efforts: Social Media Activity Tracker
- Redemption Tracking Log
To access evaluation materials, please contact Amy DeLisio.
Additional Information
Contact Person(s):
Amy DeLisio
Phone: 916-265-4042
Email: Amy.Delisio@wellness.phi.org