Recipient Organization
FUNDACION MMM INC
350 CHARDON AVE. SUITE 500
SAN JUAN,PR 00918
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Puerto Rico imports 88% of its food and produce. Food insecurity, as recently evidenced after Category-5 Hurricane Maria, is a real issue impacting 3.2 million US citizens in the waterlocked Island. The transportation and distribution of food can be impacted by factors such as weather events and infrastructure limitations. in recent years, the Island has faced a range of environmental and economic challenges, including devastating hurricanes, earthquakes, and COVID-19, as well as a long-standing debt crisis that has limited investment in local agriculture and food systems. Despite the Island's tropical climate and fertile soil, the aforementioned environmental and economic challenges have caused significant difficulties in accessing healthy and affordable food options, particularly among NAP participants. According to the Puerto Rico NAP State Plan of Operations FY 2023 from the Administration for the Socioeconomic Development of the Family Department of Family Affairs, there are currently 836,816 households participating in the Food and Nutrition Act program (NAP). These households are comprised of 1,482,295 individuals who are receiving essential support through the NAP program representing a staggering 46.03% of Puerto Rico's population. The goal of the program is to implement an incentive program to encourage the purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables, thereby increasing access to healthy food options for NAP participants on the Island, while also supporting the local food economy.Foundation MMM in partnership with key stakeholders including NAP approved online grocery store Fresh House, LLC, will implement a Nutrition Incentive Program throughout the Island of Puerto Rico integrating traditional outreach efforts with digital mechanisms to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by NAP participants whereas electronic incentives are provided at the points of purchase. The Fresh Access to Puerto Rico project will offer an electronic incentive program for NAP participants to purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The incentives will take the form of electronic coupons that can be redeemed through Fresh House online ordering system. Participants who purchase fruits and vegetables will receive a $1 match incentive to purchase other eligible food under NAP.To ensure effective data management, our digital platform will allow us to collect purchasing data, feedback, and participant details. Purchase data will be analyzed to understand the popular products, purchasing patterns, and the effectiveness of the incentive through time. Post-purchase, participants will receive a short survey, with incentivized completion, to understand their satisfaction rate, the ease of using the incentive, produce consumption patterns and suggestions for improvements. These evaluations will be conducted periodically, allowing us to pivot our efforts, if necessary. They relate directly to our desired outcome of increased produce purchases among NAP participants, ensuring they gain maximum benefits from the program.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The goals of this project are to increase the consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables among NAP participants in Puerto Rico through an online ordering and delivery service (Fresh House) whose parent company (Caribbean Produce) has been the largest food distributor in Puerto Rico in the last 25 years. Specifically, the project aims to (1) improve access to locally grown fruits and vegetables by easing purchase and delivery to NAP participants in Puerto Rico; (2) enhance the nutrition and health outcomes of NAP participants in Puerto Rico through higher consumption of fruits and vegetables; and (3) support local farmers agribusiness while promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Puerto Rico.We anticipate several outcomes for NAP participants in Puerto Rico by achieving the stated goals. These outcomes include an increased number of NAP participants throughout Puerto Rico placing orders and receiving NAP eligible products through at-home delivery, increased consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables among NAP participants in Puerto Rico, and increased revenue for local farmers and food producers in Puerto Rico. These outcomes will be measured through various methods, including tracking the number of orders placed and delivered, conducting surveys to assess changes in consumption patterns, and monitoring the additional inventory that Fresh House must procure to satisfy the increasing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables. We can guarantee that our project effectively supports local agriculture, strengthens the local food system, and fulfills the needs of our targeted communities. Fresh House's extensive network of over 40 farmers and agribusinesses provides a significant advantage in bolstering the local food system and meeting the needs of our targeted communities.1ST Goal The project aims to achieve three specific goals. Firstly, it aims to improve access to locally grown fruits and vegetables by easing purchase and delivery to NAP participants in Puerto Rico. This will be done by providing a convenient and affordable way for these households to purchase fresh produce online and have it delivered to their homes.Objectives: (1) Increase the number of NAP participants and purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables through the online ordering and delivery service. (2) Increase awareness of the program among NAP participants through outreach and marketing efforts.Outputs: (1) Design and launch a specific page within Fresh House online supermarket dedicated to eligible food items under NAP, including fruits and vegetables. (2) Conduct outreach, publicity, and marketing campaigns to promote the online ordering and delivery service within NAP participants. (3) Keep metrics on the number of people registering and placing orders through Fresh House.Outcome: Increased number of NAP participants throughout Puerto Rico placing orders and receiving NAP eligible products through at-home delivery.2nd GoalSecondly, the project aims to enhance the nutrition and health outcomes of NAP participants in Puerto Rico through higher purchase of fruits and vegetables. By increasing their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, these households will have access to more nutrients and vitamins, which is uncontested to improved health outcomes.Objective: Increase the consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables among NAP participants in Puerto Rico through electronic incentives.Outputs: (1) Number of incentives provided to NAP participants to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables; (2) Number of NAP participants who use the online ordering system to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables; and, (3) Conduct surveys to assess changes in consumption of fruits and vegetables among NAP participants.Outcome: Increased consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables among NAP participants in Puerto Rico.3rd GoalLastly, the project aims to support local farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices in Puerto Rico. By increasing demand for locally grown produce, the project will help to create a more sustainable food system in Puerto Rico and support the livelihoods of local farmers.Objective: Monitor and evaluate the impact of the program on local farmers and the agricultural industry in Puerto Rico.Outputs: (1) Number of local inventory of fruits and vegetables sold through the program. (2) Number of local farmers selling their harvest through the Fresh House platform.Outcome: Increased revenue for local farmers and food producers.In conclusion, the objectives of this project are designed to support the overarching goals of increasing access to locally grown fruits and vegetables, improving nutrition and health outcomes, and supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture practices. These outputs will be measured to determine the success of the project and to make any necessary adjustments to ensure its effectiveness. By setting specific and measurable outcomes, Fundación MMM and Fresh House can track the progress of the project and determine whether it is meeting its objectives. This will help them to make adjustments as needed to ensure that the project is successful in achieving its goals. Through this project, we hope to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of NAP participants in Puerto Rico while also supporting the local agricultural economy. Equally important, if not more, is to achieve this program's sustainability beyond the funding period by socializing a new Island-wide platform for NAP participants.
Project Methods
Program Methods:The Gusnip Produce Incentive Program will integrate traditional outreach efforts with digital mechanisms. The general approach will involve:Data Collection through Nutrisana: A digital platform that will allow us to collect purchasing data, feedback, and participant details. It provides a dynamic environment to understand how users interact with the incentive program and adjust accordingly.Synchronized Outreach: Collaboration with non-profits will facilitate community-level understanding and feedback, enabling real-time modifications to the program based on the needs of the community.Feedback Loop with Fresh House: Being the primary service provider, regular checks with Fresh House will ensure the program stays aligned with logistical capabilities and market dynamics.Analysis, Evaluation, and Interpretation:Data Analytics: Purchase data will be analyzed to understand the popular products, purchasing patterns, and the effectiveness of the incentive through time.Surveys: Post-purchase, participants will receive a short survey to understand their satisfaction rate, the ease of using the incentive, produce consumption patterns and suggestions for improvements.Community Feedback: Periodical roundtables with program beneficiaries, non-profits and local agribusinesses will provide qualitative insights into the community's reception of the program.Boosting Local Agribusiness: We will gauge the program's impact by monitoring sales growth of local produce and assessing new partnerships and infrastructural improvements within the agricultural community.________________________________________________________________________________________________Efforts to Enhance Knowledge and Drive Actions:Educational Campaigns: Launch digital and traditional marketing campaigns that emphasize the health and environmental benefits of choosing local produce. Use visually engaging infographics, video content, and testimonials.Influencer In-kind Collaborations: Partner with local influencers and health experts to create content around the importance of nutrition, the science behind it, and the perks of supporting local agribusiness.Email Newsletters: Regularly update registered and potential users with science-backed articles, quick recipes, and updates about the program. This serves as both education and a call to action.Local Media in-kind Partnerships: Collaborate with local newspapers, radio, and TV stations for features and segments dedicated to nutritional education, the importance of local agribusiness, and highlighting success stories from the program.Evaluation:Quantitative Analysis: Monitor the number of registered NAP participants, frequency of purchase, and amount spent.Qualitative Analysis: Surveys and feedback forms will evaluate user satisfaction, understanding of the program, and areas of improvement.Milestones and Indicators of Success:KPI 1: Continuous increase in number of participantsKPI 2: Increase in produce purchasesKPI 3: Satisfaction rate and a clear understanding of the program.KPI 4: Increase revenue for local farmers and food producersThese evaluations will be conducted periodically, allowing us to pivot our efforts, if necessary. They relate directly to our desired outcome of increased produce purchases among NAP participants, ensuring they gain maximum benefits from the program.