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Enhancing Local Food Access: Strategies from the Food Access Working Group

The Food Access Working Group presents the "Road Map for the Food Economy," developed at the Working Conference on January 29, 2013. This initiative focuses on improving access to healthy local foods through collaboration among various stakeholders, including WVU Extension, WVDHHR, farmers markets, and emergency food assistance organizations. Our mission is to ensure that communities can access nutritious food options while supporting local economies and sustainable farming practices.

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Enhancing Local Food Access: Strategies from the Food Access Working Group

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  1. Food Access Working Group

    Road Map for the Food Economy Working Conference January 29, 2013 Improving Access to Healthy Local Foods
  2. Who we are Members of this group include representatives from WVU Extension, WVDHHR, farmers markets, emergency food assistance organizations, and others.
  3. Members of this working group: Belinda Nicholas, Nutrition Outreach Instructor, WVU Monongalia County Extension Office Carrie Brainard, Change the Future WV / Mid-Ohio Valley Health Dept. Cheryl Brown, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, WVU Brenda Hunt, Heart and Hand House, Inc. James Vance, WVDHHR Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease John Yauch, WVDHHR Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Beverly Glaze, Family Nutrition Programs Director, WVU Extension Service
  4. Members of this working group: Mary Beth Lind, WIC Educator Eve Marcum-Atkinson, Huntington Community Gardens Jean Simpson, Manna Meal, Inc. Joy Mar, JMCatering April Hamilton, Aprils Kitchen LLC Lesa Gay, South Morgantown Farmers Market Lisa Lagana, Morgantown Farmers Market Pat Barker, USDA Food and Nutrition Service
  5. Objective of the group Improving Access to Healthy Local Food
  6. Our group’s 2012 Project Project Purpose: To increase knowledge and awareness about how SNAP customers can most effectively be encouraged to purchase healthy local food.
  7. Our group’s 2012 Project What did the project do? This project provided 8 mini-grants for farmers markets to test different strategies for attracting SNAP customers to markets, and tracked the success of the project. Project Sponsors
  8. Mini-Grant Example: Bringing SNAP-Ed to Farmers Markets Belinda Nicholas Nutrition Outreach Instructor (NOI), Monongalia County
  9. Structuring the Class Hosted at Morgantown Farmers Market Students brought their families 45 minute class at market Cooking demos – tasting Products to take home – partner with the market
  10. Responses from Participants “This class is the first time I’ve ever been to the farmers market here.  My kids have become insanely addicted to a lot of the stuff I’ve gotten…when we had the opportunity to get them fresh stuff, they noticed the difference in the taste…” “Some of the prices are so much better and everything tastes so much better. My baby daughter wakes up in the morning saying ‘market.’…Everyone should try the farmers market at least once, they’ll be hooked.”
  11. Our group’s 2012 Project - Results
  12. What did we learn? Importance of multiple levels of communication and marketing – families, transportation, market managers. 2. SNAP participants were interested and motivated in learning and cooking/eating healthy foods. 3. Active relationships brought people to farmers markets “I’ll go with you.” 4. Multiple community members were educated – farmers market vendors, children, parents. 5. Dedicated coordination by staff led to success.
  13. Looking to the Future: Next Steps Next, our working group proposes to do the following: 1. Working with FNP at state level, research the needs, successes, barriers, etc. of SNAP participants regarding use of farmers markets 2. Develop research-based marketing messages promoting fresh foods – farmers markets are NOT expensive 3. Develop programs, find resources to improve access to fresh local fruits and vegetables – community gardens, food pantries, fresh food prescriptions, farmers market donations
  14. Looking to the Future: Your Help We ask the audience to help us with our next steps in the following ways: 1. We need research assistance 2. We need resources (human and financial) for coordinators, project promotion, etc. 3. We need help with strategic marketing

  15. Thank you!

    Food Access Working Group Email: s.lyons@wvhub.org Phone: 304-673-0053 Join our group!
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