Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the Cosechando Bienestar local foods initiative includes the entire population of Nogales, Arizona and Santa Cruz County, Arizona. General program outreach is difficult to measure accurately, but radio promotion, newspaper stories and advertisements, and program presence at multiple festivals and community events have the potential to reach the entire population of Nogales and most of the county population. Nogales is home to 20,407 people, 95% of whom are Hispanic/Latino, 88.5% of whom speak a language other than English at home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the Arizona Department of Administration, one-third of city residents live 100% below the federal poverty level, two-third of city residents live 200% below the federal poverty line, 62% graduate high school and unemployment rates range from 13% -17.5%. In Santa Cruz County, the population of 46,768 is 82.5% Hispanic/Latino, and one-quarter live below the poverty line. More specifically, certain grant activities have connected to individuals personally: Nogales Mercado Farmers' Market - Since its inception in April of 2012 and up to August 2015, the Mercado averaged approximately 95 shopping customers per market day. This group is generally reflective of the demographic makeup of the county. Since issuing Farmers' Market Nutrition Program vouchers, a significant number of the shoppers have been seniors. Also, the market has seen 44 unique vendors during its 28 months of operation, including 35 who are Hispanic/Latino, one Native American, and one Hawaiian. Other vendors are White/Non-Hispanic. Two vendors were coming from outside Santa Cruz County, and two other vendors are coming from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. La Mesa Cooperativa - a consignment program that has become a core vendor at the Nogales Mercado - allows for backyard growers and farmers to sell products at the Mercado, without being present. Since its inception in August 2014, the table has worked with 26 consignors - 16 backyard growers within Nogales and outside towns and 10 established farms. Nogales Garden Club - Since September 2013, the Nogales Garden Club has welcomed more than 50 individuals, and maintains a steady weekly attendance of 10-15 backyard gardeners. There is no official membership, and attendance at weekly meetings varies. The group is entirely Hispanic/Latino, and more than 80% female on average. Community Garden Leaders - Since September 2013, 21 new individuals have attended technical training and 8 have completed a community project. 96% are Hispanic/Latino, and 38% have been men. Changes/Problems:During the three years of the Cosechando Bienestar Community Food Project grant, there has been a change in the lead coordinator position three times. Additionally, a key Mariposa Community Health Center manager that oversaw the coordinator, was out during the majority of Year 3. These factors have led to delays in the timeline of reaching goals and objectives. Despite the setbacks, Cosechando Bienestar programs have started a shift in the lifestyle of many community members. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training and professional development opportunities were offered on various levels for staff/partners and community participants. Staff were encouraged to attend professional meetings and conferences in Arizona and beyond, sponsored by the following organizations: CDC REACH Why Hunger National Association of Food Banks (2) Arizona Local First! Farm to Table Staff also received technical assistance from contract partners on the following: How to certify the Nogales Mercado to redeem SNAP EBT How to outreach and train vendors How to manage a consignment table How to market to low income consumers Community members/program participants were offered the following training opportunities: Garden Apprenticeship (13 weeks of on-site training) Garden Club Workshops (weekly workshops provided by contract partners, volunteers, staff and other organizations) How to design, develop and manage a community garden USDA training and certification for WIC & FMNP (2) How to become Nogales Mercado vendors How vendors can market themselves at farmers' markets How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated to the community as follows: Articles and advertisements in the local semi-weekly newspaper, the Nogales International. Articles and advertisements in the in a local, free monthly magazine, BorderEco. PSAs and interviews in Spanish on Radio Máxima Presentations to grantee and partner boards of directors Presentations to other local Consortia (Nogales Rural Innovation, Vivir Mejor! (Live Better) and Santa Cruz County Adolescent Wellness Network. Presentations to the Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity and the Office of Border Health What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1-Environmental/policy changes in Nogales will support & sustain local food systems for better physical/economic health. 1.1-By Month 4 - In progress. We formed a Nogales Mercado Advisory and broader food policy issues have been incorporated into sister Consortia, namely Vivir Mejor! (Live Better! Consortium), the Nogales Rural Innovation Consortium & the Santa Cruz County Adolescent Wellness Network. 1.2-By Month 20 - Not yet started. 1.3-By Month 24 - Not yet started. 2-Low income residents of Nogales will develop the capacity to grow & consume more of their own food. 2.1-By Month 9 - Achieved. 1) Major-Total of 21 low income Nogales residents completed the 13-week Garden Leader Apprentice Program. 2) Data-Demographics of participants; change in knowledge, participant satisfaction; participant projects 3) Summary-Total hours of Apprenticeship training time = 819hrs (= x 3hrs per wk x 13wks). Of the 21 that completed the first part (13wk on-the-farm training), 8 Garden Leaders completed a phase two community project. 4) Key-This program has evoked change in knowledge in 21 participants, action for 8 participants & extends outwards to the community members they also served with the knowledge & experience they gained 2.2-By Month 12 - Achieved. 1) Major-The Nogales Community Garden was established in November of 2014 by neighborhood volunteers, Garden Club members & Garden Leader). 2) Data-Site information for garden design; number of volunteers/hours, number of training sessions/participants/hours and pounds/dollars of fruits & vegetables produced/consumed/sold. 3) Summary-45 workshops & education work days at the Community Garden which equates to 113 hours of garden building & capacity training. In its short existence the Community Garden has produced over 250 pounds of vegetables, which has been donated to volunteers & the remaining portions have been sold through the LMC consignment table at the NFMF ($260 total sales). 4) Key-Change in knowledge & action. 2.3-By month 12 - Achieved. 1) Major-One charter K-12 school in Nogales has established a garden. Cosechando Bienestar (CB) staff & contract partners provides technical assistance & training to the school's students and staff 3) Summary-The charter school garden benefitted 300 students. Local food systems were incorporated into the social a science curricula. Students also prepared & consumed the food grown. 4) Key-With the assistance of CB personnel, this garden has changed the knowledge, action & condition of the students, their teachers & their families. 2.4-By Month 15 - Achieved. 1) Major- CB has been able to actively involve over 200 youth, adults & seniors in local food system awareness by offering weekly food demonstration & samples with foods. 2) Data-Number of consumers who participate in food demos; documentation of heritage & seasonal foods prepared, with recipes. 3) Summary-Food demonstrations have focused on healthy recipes that include culturally relevant foods, 4) Key-This strategy mostly stimulated change in knowledge, however, the fact that some NMFM consumers purchased heritage foods represents a change in action also. 2.5-By month 15 - Achieved. 1) Major-A MCHC Promotora de Salud leads weekly healthy cooking demonstrations at the NMFM. 2) Summary-We have included not only healthier versions of culturally relevant foods, but have also tried to include the lesser-known more seasonally grown varieties of fruits & vegetables. 3) Data-Number of consumers who participate in food demos; documentation of heritage & seasonal foods prepared, with recipes. 4) Key-This has changed the knowledge of our community participants. 2.6-By Month 24 - Achieved. 1) Major-Garden Club members each have their own home gardens thanks to the group gathering & educational workshops2) Data-Attendance; educational topics; number of gardens established or improved. 3) Summary-More than 30 community residents improved their skills to produce vegetables & fruits via its weekly gatherings & monthly workshops/field trips. 4) Key-Change in knowledge and action for the community residents who participated directly & those they assisted. 3-Establish a NMFM to connect local food producers with low income Nogales residents so that they have access to local, fresh food. 3.1-By Month 5 - Achieved 1) Major-Project coordinator & colleagues visited other border farmers' markets in Southern Arizona & networked with several market managers to discuss strengths & challenges. 3.2-By Month 8 - Achieved 1) Major-Throughout 2012 & early 2013, multiple meetings & phone calls were made to reach out to local food producers regarding participation in & support for the NMFM. 2) Data-Attendance; agendas, meeting minutes. 3) Summary-A Farmers' Market Advisory Group was formed during the first quarter of the first year. This group informed the structure & function of the NMFM, including: date/time; vendor requirements; vendor outreach; & vendor training. 4) Key-Change in knowledge, action & condition. 3.3-By Month 11 - Achieved 1) Major-Strategic Plan, Marketing Plan and Sustainability Plan were developed. 3) Summary-Production of a Strategic Plan & a Marketing Plan. 4) Key-This resulted in a change in knowledge and action. 3.4-By Month 15 - Achieved 1) Major-The weekly NMFM was initiated in April 2013& the market has continued to have a weekly presence in downtown Nogales on a year-round basis. 2) Data-Number of attendees; number of vendors; total sales. 3) Summary-A total of 27 vendors have utilized the NMFM to sell their fresh produce or value-added products, including heritage foods. Total sales have averaged $450 per week. The biggest success is attraction of SNAP & FMNP beneficiaries, with less success attracting WIC beneficiaries. 4) Key- Change in knowledge & a change in action in some 3.5-By Month 18 - In progress. 1) Major-Staff promoted the NMFM among food truck vendors & some restaurants. 3) Summary-One vegan food truck owner has purchased produce from the NMFM. One of the goals of the LMC is to begin sourcing locally grown produce to business, restaurants and/or food trucks. 4) Key- Change in knowledge and action. 3.6-By Month 24 - Achieved. 1) Major-The NMFM was certified to accept SNAP EBT in the first six months of operation. 3) Summary- 19 backyard growers & farmers attended the training & at least 5 Nogales residents or businesses have become certified to accept WIC cash value vouchers & FMNP coupons. 4) Key-This has brought change of knowledge, action & condition. 3.7-By Month 30 - In progress. 1) Major- We received $1,000 from the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission (USMBHC) Healthy Border 2020 Program to test a pilot SNAP match program at the NMFM. 2) Data-Number of SNAP transactions; value of SNAP redemption. 3) Summary-SNAP redemption increased four-fold due to the matching program. 4) Key-This matching opportunity stimulated change in action among SNAP participants. 4-Build the capacity of Nogales residents to pursue successful entrepreneurial projects & employment based on local food marketing & processing. 4.1-By Month 10 - In progress. Nogales Community Develop has sponsored a Heritage Foods Workshop & a Food Handlers Training course. 4.2-By Month 12 - Completed. Garden Leaders held 5 healthy food live cooking demonstrations 4.3-By Month 24 - In progress
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Newspapers and Periodicals
Baldeschi, T. (2013). Receiving and bringing blessings 2012 at Avalon Organic Gardens and EcoVillage. Alternative Voice. Winter/Spring 2013, 9.
Bechtol, V. Nogales Mercado to feature scavenger hunt on Friday. The Nogales International. Posted: 9 August 2013. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/community/nogales-mercado-to-feature-scavenger-hunt-on-friday/article_986a7a8e-010e-11e3-a140-0019bb2963f4.html.
Connelly, R. (2013). A new Nogales Mercado. Edible Baja Arizona. 1(5), 17.
Fornoff, M. Harvest locally for health and economic benefits. The Nogales International. Posted: 6 August 2013. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/community/harvest-locally-for-health-and-economic-benefits/article_9e3d652e-feb2-11e2-9820-0019bb2963f4.html.
Fornoff, M. Farmers Market Week ushers in SNAP system at Nogales Mercado. The Nogales International. Posted: 6 August 2013. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/community/farmers-market-week-ushers-in-snap-system-at-nogales-mercado/article_b283fbec-feb2-11e2-9998-0019bb2963f4.html.
Fornoff, M. Mercado staying hot through winter. The Nogales International. Posted: 13 December 2013. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/opinion/guest_opinion/mercado-staying-hot-through-winter/article_a31b0a32-6411-11e3-8917-001a4bcf887a.html.
Medrano, L. (2014). Una tradici�n de salud. Edible Baja Arizona. 2(8), 82-86. (Also in English. http://www.ediblebajaarizona.com/a-tradition-of-health).
Nogales International. New farmers market starts Friday in Nogales. The Nogales International. Posted: 2 April 2013. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/new-farmers-market-starts-friday-in-nogales/article_5f35b008-9bab-11e2-bbe8-0019bb2963f4.html.
Tubac Villager. Nogales Mercado to connect Nogales residents with local producers. Tubac Villager. May 2013: 25. Print.
Shacat, J. (2014). Growing health, preventing disease: In Nogales, Arizona, the Mariposa Community Health Center is harvesting well-being, one program at a time. Edible Baja Arizona. 1(5), 76-79.
Woodhouse, M. We planted all this. The Nogales International. Posted: 24 February 2015. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/community/we-planted-all-this/article_2d9ec980-bc38-11e4-974a-d7d49f243278.html?TNNoMobile.
Woodhouse, M. With people power, community garden could sprout. The Nogales International. Posted: 4 November 2014. http://www.nogalesinternational.com/community/ with-people-power-community-garden-could-sprout/article_1cf637b4-6439-11e4-b4b3-f3868fa383b9.html.
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for the Cosechando Bienestar local foods initiative includes the entire population of Nogales, Arizona and Santa Cruz County, Arizona. General program outreach is difficult to measure accurately, but radio promotion, newspaper stories and advertisements, and program presence at multiple festivals and community events have the potential to reach the entire population of Nogales and most of the county population. Nogales is home to 20,751 people, 95% of whom are Hispanic/Latino, 91% of whom speak a language other than English at home, and 8.9% of whom hold a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. One-third of city residents live below the federal poverty level. In Santa Cruz County, the population of just over 47,000 is 82% Hispanic/Latino, and one-quarter live below the poverty line. More specifically, certain grant activities have connected to individuals personally: · Nogales Mercado – As of August 2013, the Mercado averaged approximately 100 shopping customers per market day. This group is generally reflective of the demographic makeup of the county. Since issuing Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers in May, a significant number of the shoppers have been seniors. Also, the market has seen 31 unique vendors during its first five months of operation, including 19 who are Hispanic/Latino, one Native American, and one Hawaiian. Other vendors are White/Non-Hispanic. Two vendors are coming from outside Santa Cruz County, and two other vendors are coming from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. · Nogales Garden Club – Since November 2012, the Nogales Garden Club has welcomed more than 50 individuals, and maintains a steady weekly attendance of 20-25 backyard gardeners. There is no official membership, and attendance at weekly meetings varies. The group is entirely Hispanic/Latino, and more than 80% female on average. · Community Garden Leaders – As of August 2012, eight individuals have or currently are receiving training through the Community Garden Leaders program. All are Hispanic/Latino, and one-third has been men. Changes/Problems: No major problems have occurred during the first year of the grant period. The only notable challenge or change is that development of a Nogales Food Policy Council has been delayed primarily due to staff availability, as the Nogales Mercado was given priority. However, the Nogales Mercado Advisory Council has served as a kind of proxy and stepping stone toward developing broader policy-related efforts. More explicit efforts for addressing this aspect of the food system will begin early in the second year of the grant period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project coordinator has had the opportunity to expand his skill set and professional network through several activities. · Program staff participated in the Border Food Summit in Rio Rico, AZ in September 2012. This conference brought together members of the Southwest Marketing Network, local food experts and advocates and national experts including scientist Ricardo Salvador of the Union of Concerned Scientists. · In November 2012, the coordinator traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to attend the Quivira Coalition annual conference and visit successful, local community-based urban agriculture projects that were coordinated by the American Friends Service Committee. · A national retreat in November 2012 with the WhyHunger organization from New York brought together food system experts from across the country in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Program staff built professional networks, and learned about working with food-insecure low-income and minority communities. · In March 2013, the program manager and project coordinator attended the USDA Community Food Project grantee meeting in Washington, D.C. · During winter and spring of 2013, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona presented a series of technical garden trainings that helped expand the project coordinator’s skills. This led to a mini-workshop with backyard gardeners and youth in Nogales. · Program staff attended two meetings of the Somos la Semilla network, one in late Summer 2012 and one in March 2013. At these gatherings, program staff were able to network with other individuals who are building local food systems, tour community gardens and farms, discussion cultural issues related to the food system, and determine some group priorities for the Somos la Semilla network. · The project coordinator and some local gardeners visited three farms in Santa Cruz County as part of a Heritage Grain Tour in July 2012. · Throughout the year, program staff had multiple opportunities for professional development through the National REACH Coalition Community Transformation Grant program. These include technical assistance workshops in Los Angeles, and webinars on communication and promotion/outreach. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Evaluation activities of individual projects are still ongoing and have not yet yielded any quantitative results in an academic or research sense. Accomplishment, outputs and successful activities have been shared using local print and broadcast media, and through informal sharing during regular activities and meetings. · Mariposa Community Health Center and Nogales Community Development have worked to establish a structured agreement with the local daily newspaper that will include weekly stories about Cosechando Bienestar programs and successes. The newspaper has a circulation of approximately 6,500. · Staff from partner agency Nogales Community Development present on local bilingual radio station weekly, and staff from the health center visit a local bilingual radio station about once per month to discuss upcoming and ongoing events and activities related to the program. · During weekly Nogales Garden Club meetings, participants have the opportunity to share personal reviews of past activities and to give feedback to the project coordinator on gardening opportunities. · Community Garden Leaders meet once per month for a “check-in” round-table discussion. They can report on trainings and community projects and receive input from other Leaders. When Leaders attend the Garden Club meeting, they are invited to give an update in that venue, also. · This annual progress report will be shared with all partners on this grant. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Following is a list of specific actions that will be implemented during the second grant year to accomplish the stated goals and objectives of Cosechando Bienestar: 1. We will begin actively engaging the community in meetings and discussions that will move toward formation of a local food policy council. 2. The project coordinator will engage schools and youth to bring younger community stakeholders into the local food system discussion. 3. We will offer the opportunity for additional graduate student interns to work with program staff in supporting roles that will further the mission of the program. 4. Program staff will work with the Nogales Garden Club to facilitate a more independent, autonomous community civic group, rather than a group that relies heavily on program staff coordination. 5. Program staff will work with partners to improve the quality and structure of the Community Garden Leader program. This program has shown potential to become a high-quality program in the community. 6. We will continue building awareness around the Nogales Mercado to bring customers in, which will aid in further recruitment of quality fresh-produce vendors (particularly those approved to accept WIC and FMNP coupons). 7. Program staff will continue to identify methods to help community members learn and become engaged in the community’s food system, which will lead to greater understanding of the interconnectedness of food, agriculture and local economies. 8. Job responsibilities of the project coordinator will expand to include fund development to sustain projects started. Project coordinator will also begin working more closely with a local consortium that focuses on healthy eating and chronic illness to create a more holistic approach to community health and the local food system.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Environmental and policy changes in Nogales/Santa Cruz County will support and sustain local food systems for better physical and economic health Obj 1.1: Expand Cosechando Bienestar network into food policy council · In progress – This project has not yet been addressed extensively. Some community mapping activities have occurred. Obj 1.2: One public school will adopt farm-to-school policy · Not yet started. Obj 1.3: Three child care centers will adopt farm-to-school policy · Not yet started. 2. Low income residents of Nogales will develop the capacity to grow and consume more of their own food Obj 2.1: Nogales residents will be apprenticed as Garden Leaders. · Achieved. By month 12, eight Nogales residents have been trained as Community Garden Leaders. Obj 2.2: Establish community gardens · In progress. Program staff, partners and volunteers are researching potential garden sites. Obj 2.3: Establish a school garden · Achieved. One local charter school has established a school garden. Obj 2.4: Connect adults and youth · In progress – Established groups are open to all community members. Program staff is connecting Garden Leaders with youth leaders and schools. Obj 2.5: MCHC nutrition education and cooking classes · Ongoing – Roxanna’s Healthy Food Demonstration Table Obj 2.6: Establish/enhance home gardens and orchards · Ongoing – Some Community Garden Leaders are working on home garden projects. Monthly garden workshops with Avalon Gardens provide opportunity for home garden enhancement. 3. Establish a Nogales Farmers’ Market to connect local food producers with low income Nogales residents so that they have access to local, fresh food Obj 3.1: Seek technical assistance to map out strengths/challenges · Achieved – Project coordinator and colleagues visited other border farmers’ market in Southern Arizona and networked with several market managers to discuss strengths and challenges. Obj 3.2: Meet with local growers to promote participation · Achieved – Throughout 2012 and early 2012, multiple meetings and phone calls were made to reach out to local food producers regarding participation in and support for the Mercado. Obj 3.3: Develop strategic/business plan · Achieved – In October 2012, a large strategic planning meeting was convened and professionally facilitated with multiple potential vendors and other stakeholders. A formal strategic plan came out of the meeting. Obj 3.4: Pilot a farmers’ market · Achieved – The Nogales Mercado Farmers’ Market was implemented in April 2013. The initial six-month pilot period will end in September 2013. Obj 3.5: Restaurants/businesses purchasing from market · In progress – The Nogales Mercado is just finishing its pilot phase and continuing to grow a customer base. Obj 3.6: Certify growers to accept WIC, FMNP, and SNAP · Achieved – Market managers were trained to accept WIC/FMNP in April 2012. Three WIC-approved vendors were recruited to vend at the market. Four unique WIC-approved vendors have sold at the market during the first few months. The market acquired the necessary registration and equipment to begin accepting SNAP in early August 2012. Obj 3.7: Explore partnership with Wholesome Wave to double SNAP benefits · Currently Researching. 4. Build the capacity of Nogales residents to pursue successful entrepreneurial projects and employment based on local food marketing and processing Obj 4.1: Local residents develop small businesses to process/promote local food · Ongoing – Nogales Community Develop has sponsored a Heritage Foods Workshop and a Food Handlers Training course. Obj 4.2: Residents will attend culinary training · Not yet started. Obj 4.3: Residents will establish businesses that incorporate local foods · Ongoing – Nogales Community Development has provided multiple business trainings (NXLevel, marketing, Quickbooks).
Publications
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