Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is SNAP participants in Kentucky, with a focus on SNAP participants who live in persistent poverty areas. Changes/Problems:The program faced several significant challenges during the year that impacted incentive spending and operational outcomes. One major hurdle was the unexpected withdrawal of New Roots, a long-standing partner, which occurred shortly after their onboarding training. This sudden departure due to funding issues unrelated to our program, and communicated via social media, disrupted our budget and highlighted the need for enhanced ongoing infrastructure support for KDD partners beyond the foundational assistance provided through CFA's Farmers Market Support Program. Retail partnerships provided both challenges and opportunities. While KDD successfully launched at two Save A Lot locations, the stores' limited produce supply and overwhelming demand led to low incentive redemption rates and left little produce available for purchase with KDD. These issues, while reflecting the popularity of local produce, require collaborative solutions to ensure adequate availability. Another retail location, Houchen's Food Group, experienced technical delays in implementing its point-of-sale system, which further hindered retail expansion. In retrospect, onboarding multiple new GUSNIP locations in the first year proved overly ambitious and will inform our strategic approach moving forward. Program administration posed additional challenges. Despite efforts to enhance training for participating outlets, reporting compliance remained an issue. As this was the first year integrating the KDD Administration Cost-share into our workflow, some markets struggled to adapt to new reporting requirements. This experience underscored the need for a more robust and accessible training platform for participants. To address this, we plan to implement a learning management system in 2025, offering structured online learning accessible to outlets throughout the year. External factors also posed considerable challenges for the program. This year's data underscores the profound impact of external factors on farmers' ability to engage with the Kentucky Double Dollars (KDD) program. Weather emerged as the most significant challenge identified by participating markets, with early heat waves, prolonged summer temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns affecting crop yields and market participation. Additionally, site-specific barriers, such as lease agreements and operational limitations, further complicated farmers' ability to access consistent market opportunities. Other external factors, including economic pressures and community-level disruptions, also played a role in limiting program participation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing these systemic barriers through targeted support, adaptive strategies, and continued investment in resilience-building initiatives to ensure farmers can fully benefit from programs like KDD. The lessons learned in 2024 will guide future efforts to streamline operations. Addressing produce supply challenges, refining training methods, and adopting a phased approach to onboarding new locations will be key priorities in 2025. These strategies aim to enhance the program's sustainability and effectiveness, ensuring greater impact and success in the coming years. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project provided a comprehensive range of training and outreach opportunities, fostering professional development for partners, participants, and community stakeholders. These efforts were integral to ensuring successful program implementation and expanding the knowledge base around KDD. Training for Market Implementation The project conducted four virtual KDD training sessions tailored to markets onboarding in 2024. These sessions provided foundational knowledge and step-by-step guidance for implementing KDD, with a focus on processes, reporting requirements, and strategies to maximize program impact. To further support markets, the team offered 13 one-on-one follow-up training sessions. These personalized trainings addressed specific challenges faced by new and struggling markets, enabling them to better navigate implementation hurdles and enhance program performance. Engagement with Community Partners A key aspect of this project is building engagement capacity within the community by educating key stakeholders. The team delivered virtual training sessions for: ? 60+ Nutrition Education Program (NEP) agents, equipping them with tools to incorporate KDD into their nutrition outreach efforts. ? 100+ Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) and Horticulture agents, focusing on integrating KDD into their existing programming and connecting it with local food systems. ? Family and Consumer Science agents, who received virtual training tailored to their work, though the exact participant count was not recorded. ? Two trainings annually with the more than a dozen members of the KDD Community Partner Network, providing attendees with information about the program, and providing space for participants to share their work and ideas for how the network could mutually support one another's work. The team also conducted in-person presentations at eight Farmers Market Nutrition Program trainings across Kentucky. These sessions provided hands-on insights into how KDD enhances local food systems, supporting both farmers and community members. Additionally, the team worked one-on-one with several partners in our community network to share information about KDD and how the program might best serve their clients, including representatives from Goodwill of Kentucky, God's Pantry Food Bank, City of Bowling Green Schools, and several health departments. Healthcare Provider Outreach Recognizing the connection between food access and health outcomes, the project expanded its outreach to healthcare providers during this period. Key activities included: ? A statewide webinar in partnership with the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) Quality Team, introducing hospitals to the KDD program and its potential to improve community health through access to fresh, local foods. ? One-on-one meetings with representatives from Adair and Barren County hospitals, fostering direct engagement and exploring collaborative opportunities to integrate KDD into their community outreach initiatives. ? A presentation to the Foundation for Healthy Kentucky strategic planning committee, highlighting the role of farmers markets as health-supportive resources and how KDD facilitates access for vulnerable populations. Community Outreach Through Tabling Events The project team actively participated in a variety of tabling events to connect directly with diverse communities, distribute resources, and educate stakeholders about KDD. These events included: ? Berea Kids Eat summer launch, where the team engaged with families to promote KDD and its benefits. ? The Appalachian Community Meal in June, connecting with local residents and raising awareness about fresh food accessibility. ? The Kentucky Refugee and Inclusion Summit, where the team distributed translated materials to ensure inclusivity and reach non-English speaking communities. ? The ARH Hospital Food is Medicine popup in Hazard, in collaboration with the Kentucky Hospital Association and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, to promote the intersection of food access and healthcare. ? The Louisville People's Summit, where the team discussed the program's potential to address food equity. Impact and Reach of Training Efforts Collectively, these training and outreach initiatives helped strengthen the knowledge, skills, and resources of hundreds of individuals and organizations across Kentucky. By engaging markets, educators, healthcare providers, and diverse communities, the project fostered a network of professionals and stakeholders equipped to champion KDD and its mission to improve food access and local food systems. Launch of KDD's SNAP Cohort & KDD Advisory Council KDD's SNAP cohort was launched with a clear and critical goal: to guide farmers markets through the steps necessary to offer SNAP benefits, fostering greater inclusivity and accessibility for low-income families. This initiative has been invaluable, providing markets with technical assistance, creating networking opportunities, and helping us identify additional support needs. Feedback from participating markets has highlighted its usefulness, particularly in clarifying the complexities of the SNAP application process. However, challenges persist. In 2024, only one market successfully obtained SNAP authorization. Two applications were rejected by USDA, while others delayed applications until 2025 or decided against applying due to the detailed information provided through the cohort. Key obstacles include the USDA's slow and inconsistent approval process, unclear rejection reasons, and the lack of continuity in case management. Market managers often receive conflicting guidance from different USDA representatives, leading to frustration and delays. Additionally, the cost of processing SNAP benefits remains a significant deterrent for many markets. While the Kentucky Department of Agriculture covers these costs for the first year, sustainability becomes a challenge beyond that, often making the program financially unfeasible for smaller markets. Despite these hurdles, the SNAP cohort has illuminated critical gaps and areas for improvement, serving as a vital first step toward a more streamlined and equitable process. Equally instrumental in shaping the Kentucky Double Dollars (KDD) Program's success is the KDD Advisory Council, a diverse and highly engaged group of 12 members. The council includes seven SNAP customers, one large retail manager, one small retail manager, one rural farmers market manager, one urban farmers market manager, and one farmer. This diverse representation ensures that the program reflects the needs and perspectives of its stakeholders. Council members have provided transformative feedback, directly influencing program improvements such as the transition to direct deposit for faster and more reliable reimbursements and a strategic social media revamp to better connect with audiences. Their dedication and insight are a driving force behind the program's continued evolution, underscoring the value of collaborative leadership in achieving shared goals. Together, the SNAP cohort and Advisory Council embody KDD's commitment to innovation, collaboration, and equitable access, laying the foundation for future growth while addressing systemic challenges. Through these initiatives, we are not just responding to immediate needs but also building a resilient and inclusive food system for all. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?? Presented to Farmers Market Support Program Annual Gathering, February 9, 2024, sharing about KDD successes and challenges, including details for how participants could get involved as a farmers market. 50 attendees. ? Presented at the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference during the farmers market short course, January 2 - 4, 2024, providing participants with a brief overview of the KDD program and instructions for applying. ? CFA staff presented to the state Tobacco Oversight Committee, sharing about the economic impacts of the program and how funding from the Kentucky Agriculture Development Fund has contributed to those impacts. Several state representatives spoke up in support of the program and mentioned how much it meant to the markets in their home districts. Around 25 attendees, including twelve state representatives. CFA staff met with Jonathan Shell, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, and Dana Feldman, the Executive Director of the Office for Consumer and Environmental Protection, to discuss the impact of KDD on markets and farmers and how the commissioner's office can better support our work moving forward. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Looking ahead, our efforts remain focused on growing the Kentucky Double Dollars (KDD) Program's reach and impact by building on established foundations while pursuing innovative strategies. Recruitment efforts are a key priority. We have actively engaged farmers markets through phone calls, emails, and paper mailings--a hands-on approach that has proven effective in expanding our network. These activities will continue into the new year as we deepen our outreach. Additionally, we are revisiting retail store recruitment with an eye toward inclusivity, broadening our focus to welcome farm stands as valued program partners. This expansion aims to diversify outlet participation and further enhance access to fresh, local produce for communities across Kentucky. To support these growing partnerships, we are implementing a learning management system (LMS) using predesigned software that will be adapted for KDD. With flexibility and efficiency in mind, the LMS will allow outlets to train at their own pace and provide essential onboarding for new managers and vendors. By standardizing training and ensuring consistent knowledge transfer, we aim to reduce program errors and improve overall operational excellence. This tool reflects our commitment to fostering sustainable program management and empowering outlets to succeed. Equally vital to our future activities is the continued strengthening of community partnerships. Collaboration with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services remains a cornerstone of our outreach strategy moving forward. In 2025, this partnership will take a significant step forward as the Cabinet commits to sending targeted mailings to potential participants. This effort aligns with our shared mission of reaching underserved populations and ensuring equitable access to the program's benefits. Through targeted recruitment, innovative training solutions, and meaningful community partnerships, we are paving the way for sustained growth and deeper impact. These initiatives not only support the program's immediate goals but also reinforce its long-term vision of fostering healthier communities and more resilient food systems across Kentucky.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Kentucky Double Dollars program (KDD) incentivizes the purchase of Kentucky-grown fruits and vegetables by SNAP participants at farmers markets, community markets, and retail outlets across the state. This collaborative economic development initiative serves the dual mission of increasing access to fresh, healthy foods for SNAP populations while providing direct support to Kentucky's farmers. During the first year of this grant, Kentucky Double Dollars expanded SNAP KDD to 35 farmers markets and community markets. Paired with this, KDD partnered with 7 retail locations. Retail sales are crucial for providing consistent access to local produce. Through these partnerships, nearly $35,000 in SNAP KDD incentives were redeemed during this period. Paired with this, KDD also grew our FMNP matching incentive programs (the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program & the Women, Infant, and Children Farmers Market Nutrition Program) to 28 additional farmers and community markets, adding $100,606 in incentive sales. Evaluation efforts were led by CFA's evaluation partners from the University of Kentucky's Community and Economic Development Institute of Kentucky (CEDIK). In coordination and collaboration with NTAE, comprehensive surveys aimed to capture participant experiences, shopping habits, and health outcomes were administered to participants at intake and at the end of the market season. To better understand program impacts outside of survey data, 21 in-depth interviews were conducted with program participants. A description of research activities and relevant findings follows. Year 1 evaluation activities highlight KDD's transformative impact on community-level health outcomes and economic resilience across the state. A rigorous mixed-methods evaluation process--including 196 intake surveys, 81 follow-up surveys (with 64 participants completing both), and 21 in-depth interviews--uncovered profound changes in participant behavior, health, and food security. Statistical tests such as paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests provided robust evidence, while qualitative insights deepened understanding of KDD's role in fostering healthier eating habits and improved well-being. Behavioral shifts were nearly universal, with 95% of survey participants reporting positive changes in at least one of the seven food-related behaviors measured. Among these, 87% reduced processed food consumption, 87% grew more aware of food origins, and 85% heightened their nutritional knowledge. These changes translated into practical benefits: 72% improved their food preparation skills, 74% reported better digestive health, and 76% increased physical activity. Remarkably, 64% of participants achieved weight loss, illustrating the program's tangible health impact. Health metrics mirrored these behavioral improvements. Reports of "fair/poor" health plummeted from 43% to 27%, while "very good" health ratings rose from 16% to 21%. For participants starting in poorer health, the gains were even more pronounced. Overall, 71% of survey participants credited KDD with a significant positive impact on their health, largely due to better access to fresh produce. Dietary improvements followed suit, with significant increases in vegetable consumption (+2 servings/week), salads (+1/week), and tomatoes (+0.5/week). Participants also embraced healthier choices, such as replacing fried potatoes with fresh alternatives. Sixty-nine percent reported eating more vegetables overall, and 64% increased their fruit intake. Participants' stories reinforced these findings. Many described experimenting with unfamiliar vegetables like bok choy and kale, inspired by farmers' preparation tips. The program's affordability and access helped households prioritize healthier meals, proving especially impactful for those on tight budgets. Additionally, during this period CEDIK conducted a multi-year economic impact evaluation, informed by 383 farmer surveys (127 collected in 2024) and qualitative interviews, revealing KDD's pivotal role in strengthening Kentucky's local food system. Over four years, total farmers market sales climbed by $1 million, from $8.6 million to $9.6 million. Small farms--earning <$25,000 annually--saw the greatest relative gains (17%), with medium and large farms benefiting as well, enjoying per-farm sales increases of $14,000 and $24,400, respectively. Profitability trends were equally compelling. From 2020 to 2024, 73% of farmers reported higher net income, with medium-sized farms leading in growth (80% in 2024 alone). Moreover, 56% of farmers expanded production to meet rising demand, while 33% increased hiring. Small- and medium-sized farms were particularly dynamic, with half adding workers in 2024. Product diversification also rose, with 58% of participants expanding their offerings--mitigating risk and broadening revenue streams. Farmers' voices underscored these statistics. Many highlighted how KDD stabilized their income, drove customer traffic to their farmers markets, and facilitated greater food access for low-income shoppers. The program's value as a cornerstone of rural economies was clear, with 84% of farmers expressing high satisfaction. By improving health, boosting farm profitability, and forging stronger farm-to-community ties, KDD is a powerful model for building resilient and equitable local food systems. Its measurable successes position it as a scalable program capable of addressing health disparities and fostering local economic resilience.

Publications

• Type: Websites Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: o While Kentucky Double Dollars has maintained a program-specific website since the programs initiation, in recent years the website has become outdated. During this reporting period, significant staff time was dedicated to updating the KDD website. ? www.kentuckydoubledollars.org