Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Farm to Families program will serve low-income Southeast Asian immigrant farmers and low-income consumers through the provision of nutrition education and farmers markets at local WIC Offices in food desert areas of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In order to enhance opportunities for Southeast Asian immigrant farmers, HAPdeveloped and managedweekly farmers markets. Year One we establisheda market at 1075 Arcade Street WIC office. Farmers average income was $50/market at HAP and $90/market at Arlington Hills.In years 2 & 3,we added additional farmers marketsnear other WIC offices. In year two, no additional farmers markets were established due to regulatory issues butwe strategized for the followingseason's markets in November. The two existing markets were successful. Farmer Y.Y. reported great satisfaction for selling at the Arlington Heights Lutheran Church farmers market. She also built good relationships with neighbors and community members during the summer. We explored the option of moving to Community Supported Agriculture model with partnership of Interfaith Action and MN Hmong Agriculture Co-op (MHAC). Ten families participated in this model. We worked closely with partners Arlington Hills (AH) Community Center, AHLC, and Interfaith Action, to hold more marketing and outreach events, and improve the location to increase market activity. In year three, we ended the farmers market support due to competition and cost-effectiveness issues for the farmers. We shifted focus to Community Supported Agriculture projects. Grew the number of families participating in CSA shares from 10 to 30, plus provided extra produce to the churches. We grew the number of community gardens with the "Farm-Faith" project. Increased number of sites from one to five, impacting 60 families. We developed a new partnership with The Good Acre which helped farmers get wholesale contracts and their own CSA. Five Hmong farmers began selling at Sun Foods Farmers Market in St. Paul. Through Project SEED and Project SAFE, HAPleveraged its existing programs for farmer education and capacity building. In Year One: 80% of participating farmers will report an increase in knowledge of farm business practices, licensing, loan products, marketing, and pricing after participating for one year. 80% of participating farmers will report an increase in their food production capabilities due to their participation in the program after one year. In Year Two and Three: 80% of participating farmers will report an increase in knowledge of farm business practices, licensing, loan products, marketing, and pricing after participating for one year. 80% of participating farmers will report an increase in their food production capabilities due to their participation in the program after one year.MHAC hosted farmers' market training, including setting up the stand, display, customer interactions, handling money, etc. Referred farmers to scheduled FMNP certification trainings. Feedback from Indicators of Success Survey - comments from client farmers: (a) I learned how to manage my expenses, keep records, and market my products to the community. (b) Learn to keep track of my selling date at my farmer market. (c) Learn how to keep my book records on produce sell and planting and harvesting. (d) I have learned how to become a better gardener and help others around me. It has also taught me how other immigrants like myself have succeeded in their business. I have no education like them and they were able to become successful in community food. In Year Three:Technical Assistance was provided by HAP staff which helped farmers find new farmers markets to sell their produce. We continued orientation for HAP farmers market vendors. At least 90% of farmers reported an increase in knowledge of farm business practices, and 90% reported an increase in food production. We held a workshop on starting a CSA. 90% of farmers indicated new knowledge in CSA. We coordinated outreach and sponsored trainings of interest to Hmong farmers, including the annual MDA workshop. Assisted in planning for the Immigrant and Minority Farmers Conference - over 300 attendees benefitted from programming and workshops; 100% of farmers stated learning a new technique, practice, and resources to help their businesses. HAPrecruited farmers from its existing Project SEED and Project SAFE programs to become vendors at the farmers markets: Year 1= 10 farmers, Year 2=14, Year 3 = 14; for a total of 38 farmers recurited to vendors. In year Two:MHAC hosted farmers' market training, including setting up the stand, display, customer interactions, handling money, etc. resulting in a significant impact in the AHLC community in building trust and relationships, positive feedback, consistent customers each week. We had ongoing outreach and recruitment efforts by program staff.Here'show participants used the program (14 respondents): 5 worked in community Garden; 6 received food for free; 7 took cooking Classes; 3 volunteered; 8 Learned to farm/garden; 3 were customers;4 business planning; 2 started new businesses; 1 took job readiness training. In Year Three, 5 farmers had new stands at Sun Foods Farmers Market. Farmers were trained onaccepting WIC and FMNP vouchers. In Year One: HAP partnered with MDA (Minnesota Department of Agriculture) to train and certify the farmers to accept WIC/ FMNP vouchers. WIC vouchers received: 1 per vendor per market time. In Year Two: referred farmers to trainingsbut did not host this year. Needed more WIC/FMNP certification trainings for Asian farmers. In Year Three: Conducted outreach with MDA for WIC/FMNP certification training. We provided recipes and cooking demonstrations during each farmers market. In Year One, we conducted 6 demonstration sessions using various nutrition concepts including the My Plate concept, introducing a variety of vegetables, discussion of vitamins and minerals, protein options, and alternatives to prepared foods. In Year Two, a SNAP educator demonstrated healthy cooking options at farmers markets. In Year Three, we shared culturally relevant recipes to over 250 community members. Hosted 12 different cooking demonstrations at various community events and shared over 250 recipes with the community with recipe fliers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to the community through our classes, training sessions, conferences and publications. Additionally, following isfeedback we received from our Indicators of Success Survey indicating that results of this work are being shared in the community: What have you learned from this program about farming or gardening? I have been part of the community gardens for two years now. I garden as a hobby but also sell at a small farm stand. This program has taught me many things about gardening and starting a business. I have learned strategies in planting and growing vegetables that the community needs. At first, I was growing everything I could get my hands on but now I have learned to grow only what I need and what I can sell at my farm stand. One of my favorite trainings was learning all the different kinds of tomatoes and tasting them. It taught me which tomatoes I should grow. I am still new to gardening and hope to continue at the gardens and eventually move to a larger plot of land. I learned how to garden in a small plot and plant vegetables and fruits. I also learned to take care of my garden by taking out weeds and insects. I learned how to harvest and how to turn the garden over for the winter. I am very happy with this program. I love this program and find it very valuable. This program taught me how to garden and grow vegetables for my family. They also helped me purchase seeds and learn about the different vegetables. I also enjoyed learning about composting and cleaning up gardens for the next year. I must have composted 10 pounds of leftover tomatoes and peppers. There were many things I learned this year that helped me become a better farmer. We started with seeds and I learned how to plant seeds next to each other and the different vegetables to plant with. At the end of the year we learned how to compost all our wasted vegetables which would help the soil for next year. How has this program impacted your farming business? I help me explain to my customer the importance of no spray, and farming organic. Help me to become a better farmer to local business. Good Agricultural Practices, No spray, Organic Transition. I am able to seek advice and training from your organization and learn from farmers who have already started their business. I am getting great guidance on which vegetables to grow and sell and how to market my products. How has this program impacted your life? It impacted my life by seeing local customer get to eat fresh vegetable. It impacted me to keep on learning new skill. It helped me to choose better food and eat healthy. Growing vegetables makes me feel good and it helps me feed my family. I get to grow fresh produce for my family and learn how to garden at the same time. Also, I get good exercise gardening and walking. With the farmers market in my neighborhood and conveniently on when I get home from work its perfect for my family and me. My kids love the vegetables available because their cultural foods that they eat when they are at my parents' house. They also relate to the farmers because they are Hmong and can talk to them and ask them for samples. I love the farmers market! It is right in my neighborhood and all my kids love it too because of the events. More importantly, it allows me to purchase fresher product for my family at a cheaper price. The vendors are super nice and always give more than you paid for so thats very nice. I live in an area where there has never been a farmers market and the only way to get groceries is taking the taxi to Cub Foods or Rainbow Foods. Getting a taxi usually gets costly so I go to the grocery store only twice a month. Having a farmers market in the Arlington Hills neighborhood has been a great blessing. In the summer months of July and August there is always great variety of vegetables where I don't ever have to get them at the grocery store. Also, the vegetables are very affordable compared to the store. I am saving more money and everything is more convenient. Having the market in my neighborhood has also brought my community together for events and community gatherings. My kids love the seed planting and even love the entertainers if they are present. I love to help out my community and this program has allowed me to do that. I have helped out at community building events and meeting people and helping them is the best feeling. This program allows me to socialize and help the community. This program taught me how be become a healthier eater and be a better cook. I also know where my local farmers markets are, so I can go purchase affordable fruits and vegetables. It is teaching me how to become a better gardener and I hope to one day become a farmer selling at a market. It also provides me with an opportunity to grow fresh produce for my family. I have never had any nutrition training or education in my life. It was very nice to know the different topics in nutrition such as fat, carbs, and fiber. Your classes helped me better understand what I am putting into my diet and at the same time it has taught me new healthy and affordable recipes that I can cook for my family. I wish I could attend the classes all year because there is so much more I would like to learn. I look forward to coming again in the future. I am now able to grow vegetables at the garden and eventually at my home one day. I have learned skills that will help me forever. I am very thankful for this program. It has helped me start a small business. I am nowhere near where I want to be, but I am able to start selling at a small amount that fits my capacity. I hope to grow and maybe sell at a farmers market one day. I have learned many things from this program thank you. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1. To increase the self-reliance of Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee farmers to provide for the food needs of the community. Year One Goal: 90% of participating farmers will report an increase in income due to their participation in the program at the conclusion of each growing season. Outcome: 100% of participating farmers reported an increase in their income. Year Two Goal: 90% of participating farmers will report an increase in income due to their participation in the program at the conclusion of each growing season. Outcome: 100% of participating farmers reported an increase in their income. Year Three Goal: 90% of participating farmers will report an increase in income due to their participation in the program at the conclusion of each growing season. Outcome: 100% of participating farmers reported an increase in their income. Goal 2: To reduce barriers for low-income consumers who are WIC recipients to access locally grown fruits and vegetables.We created farmers markets where low-income consumers are situated. HAP developed and managed farmers markets in locations where locally grown produce is not readily available to low-income consumers. Year One Goal: 175 family visits each week, total of 2800 over 16-week period. 50% of WIC recipients at the Arcade Street office will visit the onsite farmers market to purchase local produce during each growing season that the market is open. Outcome:2 farmers markets established near WIC offices, Arcade site: 20 visits/week, Arlington Hills site: 30 visits/week. Year Two Goal: 50% of WIC recipients at the Arcade Street office will visit the onsite farmers market to purchase local produce during each growing season that the market is open. Outcome: Farmers markets operating at 2 locations where WIC recipients visit regularly.Working with WIC Program Manager to better promote the farmers markets to WIC recipients. Distributed surveys to WIC recipients to better understand their perceptions about vouchers. Year Three Goal: 50% of WIC recipients at the Arcade Street office will visit the onsite farmers market to purchase local produce during each growing season that the market is open. Outcome: Farmers markets no longer co-located at WIC sites. Goal 3: To enhance the knowledge of low-income consumers on the relationship between diet and health. Deliver an evidence-based nutrition class to WIC families. 6 week program, 90 minutes per session based on the SNAP (Stanford Nutrition Action Program) food selection and preparation methods. Initial class followed by 12 week maintenance intervention. Total of 180 participants. Year One Goal:A minimum of 60 WIC recipients will participate in the nutrition education program. 90% of those who complete the nutrition education program will demonstrate an increase in knowledge on the relationship between diet and health. 80% will report a change in their eating habits due to participation in the nutrition education program in a follow up survey 6 months after completing the program. Outcome: Nutrition program was delivered by UMN-Extension educator, Shirley Vang. Program ran for 6 weeks. Served 40 families. 100% indicated an increase knowledge of diet and health; 100% reported that they are eating more healthy. Year Two Goal:A minimum of 60 WIC recipients will participate in the nutrition education program. 90% of those who complete the nutrition education program will demonstrate an increase in knowledge on the relationship between diet and health. 80% will report a change in their eating habits due to participation in the nutrition education program in a follow up survey 6 months after completing the program. Outcome: 9 week Nutrition Education program conducted with SNAP educator Shirley Vang. Developed plan to get WIC families more involved in local community food access and programs. Indicators of Success Survey results: Frequency of eating fresh fruits and vegetables increased for 10 out of 14 respondents. All respondents (100%) indicated that the program made it easier for them to get access to fresh fruits and vegetables and that fit their cultural diets. (Goal was 90%). Year Three Goal: A minimum of 60 WIC recipients will participate in the nutrition education program. 90% of those who complete the nutrition education program will demonstrate an increase in knowledge on the relationship between diet and health. 80% will report a change in their eating habits due to participation in the nutrition education program in a follow up survey 6 months after completing the program. Outcome: Worked with U of MN Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program's Community Nutrition Educator to provide nutrition education to SNAP and WIC-eligible families. Additional time allocated to nutrition education due to change in program activities. Served over 200 participants this year.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Farm to Families program will serve low-income Southeast Asian immigrant farmers and low-income consumers through the provision of nutrition education and farmers markets at local WIC Offices in food desert areas of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Changes/Problems:This year there were a few major changes and obstacles for the CFP program which provided HAP staff an opportunity to adapt and change in order to continue to fulfill the needs of the communities. For example, last year HAP hosted two farmers markets on the East Side of Saint Paul. While these farmers markets were able to successfully provide a source of healthy, locally grown food to food desert communities, they were not well attended due to market popularity elsewhere. Even though HAP farmers had regular customers, the income was not enough to justify the time they spent there. HAP decided to end the farmers markets and modified its approach to work with partners and farmers to create a CSA for the surrounding community. Through these changes and efforts, HAP was able to start a CSA at five different community churches that serve the food desert areas of the East Side with over 30 different families served not including food donated to the churches from the farmer's extra produce. Community member, C.M. has a CSA share with MHAC this year and expressed how much the project has helped his family: "The CSA has been great. Transportation for me has always been an issue so getting to grocery stores and/or farmers markets are always a hassle. When my church reached out to me and asked if we would be interested, I jumped on board right away. The MHAC farmers come every Sunday and drop off our shares at the church and not only that but the vegetables are so fresh and more likely than not we always get more than we pay for. It has been an amazing experience." Additional modifications due to the end of the HAP sponsored farmers markets included more time for nutrition education. HAP staff worked with its partners to provide nutrition education and cooking demonstrations to low-income, SNAP and WIC families during outreach events, community building events, resource fairs, job fairs, and professional conferences that led to serving over 200 beneficiaries this year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This year the project has provided several opportunities for professional development through technical assistance and workshops for farmers and growers. HAP worked with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to perform outreach to Hmong farmers and growers on becoming Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)/WIC certified for farmers markets. This certification allows farmers to accept FMNP and WIC vouchers from low income families. Based on feedback from Hmong farmer participants, HAP helped with sponsoring and coordinating outreach for desired training opportunities. For example, HAP coordinated outreach to the community to inform farmers of annual MDA workshop trainings specifically designed for Hmong speaking individuals. Additionally, HAP provided a CSA workshop for farmers hosted by Mhonpaj's Garden and organic farmer, May Lee. During this workshop, farmers learned the history of May Lee along with business and practices of starting a CSA. HAP continues to work with its partners at the University of Minnesota Extension to provide nutrition education and cooking demonstrations to low-income families in the greater Saint Paul area. HAP alone hosted 12 different cooking demonstrations throughout the year and shared over 250 recipes to the community. These demonstrations are held at community events, job fairs, and other venues in the target neighborhoods. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?HAP works on a daily basis as a resource for farmers and the community. Through working alongside its partners from Interfaith Action, MDA, Minnesota Food Association (MFA), University of Minnesota Extension, and others, HAP's staff is able to share success stories and accomplishments to the communities. Every year HAP is part of the planning committee for the Immigrant and Minority Farmers Conference that draws over 300 immigrant and minority farmer attendees. Through this conference, HAP is able to share the impact it has had in the community and farmers' lives through stories and networking among HAP's CFP beneficiaries. HAP program staff continues to share success stories with colleagues, partners, and other farmers in the community in hopes of touching lives and bringing attention to the impact and importance of our work locally. Program staff also uses social media such as HAP's website and Facebook page to share events, important dates, and success stories. This year, HAP staff created a healthy foods and recipes calendar for 2018 that focuses on Southeast Asian culturally relevant recipes, health advice, and physical activity exercises from a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) health and wellness professional. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
HAP's Community Food Project (CFP) reached out to, and impacted, several diverse populations of people during the year. HAP developed partnerships and services that enabled the program to connect with farmers, the interfaith community, local immigrant families, and recipients of public assistance programs. HAP has impacted over 500 low-income families in the food desert areas of Saint Paul through providing nutrition education and healthy food demonstrations at various farmers markets, resource fairs, job fairs, and community events. CFP funding helped to increase the self-reliance of Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee farmers by helping them provide for the food needs of the community and themselves. Through HAP's Farm-Faith Project, we facilitated development of community gardens for 60 immigrant and refugee families across five different community churches in the East Side of Saint Paul. Gardeners that took part in the community gardens were able to grow culturally relevant vegetables for their families throughout the summer and into the fall. Gardeners expressed how being able to garden in their community helped them save money on groceries, while at the same time, becoming more involved within their neighborhood. This year was the first time gardening for HAP participant, K.H., who expressed how the gardens have impacted their lives: "My mother and I have not gardened since our time at the refugee camps back in Thailand. During those hard times gardening was a job for us. It has been such a nice change of pace to come to America and actually garden for myself and my family. I have found gardening [cathartic] in relieving stress and I have also met several people in my community who come from similar backgrounds. I am looking forward to being part of theses gardens again next year." This year there was a tremendous increase in the number of families participating in the Farm-Faith project, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Last year, HAP worked with their partner farmer group, Minnesota Hmong Agriculture Co-op (MHAC), and started a CSA at the local Farm-Faith church, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (ORLC). During the first year, shares were given throughout the summer to ten different families in the community. This year, more than 30 different families were supporting MHAC and getting half/full shares throughout the summer. HAP has been working with local Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee farmers in connecting them with new market opportunities to sell their produce and provide food for the community. HAP is working with a local organization, The Good Acre, in referring farmers to them for wholesale contracts and their own CSA. This year HAP introduced farmer P.T. to The Good Acre with the following feedback: "Although this is my first time doing anything related to wholesale, it has been nice to be educated in wholesale practices, food safety, and strategies to be a good wholesale farmer. Sometimes selling at farmers markets is not enough to make a living so I look forward to working with HAP and The Good Acre this summer and maybe in the upcoming years." HAP staff has also provided technical assistance and helped local Southeast Asian farmers find new farmers markets to sell their produce. Currently, HAP has five farmers selling their fresh produce at the Sun Foods Farmers Market in Saint Paul, Minnesota. All of these efforts have played a major role in reducing barriers for low-income consumers to access locally grown fruits and vegetables as the community is being served through HAP's farmers, farmers markets, CSA's, and community gardens. This program has also worked to enhance the knowledge of low-income consumers on the relationship between diet and health. For example, HAP worked with University of Minnesota Extension's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Community Nutrition Educator, Tou Yang, in providing nutrition education for low-income, SNAP- and WIC-eligible families. HAP staff shared culturally relevant recipes to over 250 community members this year through outreach events, resource fairs, and professional conferences.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The Farm to Families program serves low-income Southeast Asian immigrant farmers and low-income consumers through the provision of nutrition education and farmers markets at local WIC Offices in food desert areas of Saint Paul, Minnesota Changes/Problems:Due to the growing season coming to an early end, HAP staff had to end the farmers market two weeks earlier than expected in the fall of 2015.This was due to farmers running out of fruits and vegetables to sell at their respective market stands. Unlike other local markets in the area, HAP market vendors can only sell produce they grow and depends on the weather. Staff will reflect upon the successes and challenges of the year as well as work with future farming vendors to help farmers extend their farm season. Staff is continuing to meet with its partners to establish better community involvement and to help ensure farmers market success next year. HAP hopes to establish a new partnership with Sun Foods farmers market to help farmers get FMNP certified and also to certify their market. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the last weeks of the market season, program staff coordinated a farmers' market training hosted by MHAC. This training educated SEED participant farmers in farmers' market education. MHAC farmer, See Thao, showed participants how to set-up a farmers' market stand as well as how to best display and organize vegetables to better attract customers. Each participant got first-hand experience working with customers, handling money, and running a farmers' market booth. This is significant because it provides beginning farmers experience of what to expect when taking the next step as an agricultural entrepreneur.Finally, HAP met with MDA this month to discuss farmers market nutrition program certification training and farmers market licenses for HAP's markets. Last year HAP housed MDA's Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) certification classes. This year HAP did not house the event, however, this quarter we played a big role in referring Hmong farmers in our network to the scheduled trainings. HAP also worked with its partners to establish new markets in order to help farmers get FMNP certified and sell at certified markets. The one-day HAP-Arlington Hills farmers market began in May. The kick-off to the market was paired with the Saint Paul Police Departments, "Safe Summer Nights" event. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?HAP continues to grow as a farmers' market. Although each market is in its pilot year, farmer vendors and program staff have received positive feedback from the community. Vendors are also reporting consistent customers who attend the market on a weekly basis; thus building trust and relationships with the farmer. HAP and its partners from Interfaith Action, AHLC, and the Arlington Hills Community Center (AHCC) are consistently outreaching to the community along with updating the community on farmers' market dates and events. Finally, to close out the year, AHLC intern, Maggie Johnson, created a summarized narrative of the AHLC farmers market in which she discussed the impact the market had on the community this year. HAP continues to meet with its partners from Interfaith Action, AHLC, and the Arlington Hills Community Center (AHCC) to discuss successes and challenges from the year and how to improve for next year. HAP and its partners are planning more outreaching events along with seeking new partnerships in the city of Saint Paul to improve market activity. HAP continues to meet with its partners, AHLC and AHCC, to discuss successes and challenges from last year and how to improve for this year. Partners planned marketing strategies and an approach for this season, including event planning, signage, and dates/times to hold the events. HAP and its partners are planning more outreach events and are seeking new partnerships in the city of Saint Paul to improve market activity. Additionally, through the use of networking, program staff has begun reaching out to and recruiting farmers to sell at HAP farmers markets. With the market underway, staff is strategizing new ways to promote the market so it brings in the most business for the farmers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Staff met with Interfaith Action, AHLC, and AHCC to reflect upon the farmers' market season. Topics discussed were community events, community involvement, and marketing. HAP and its partners hope to get the community more involved by building upon the successes of the events from this past year. We also plan to strategically move the market to better attract the traffic from the main streets of Maryland Avenue and Payne Avenue. Additionally, HAP is working on meeting with WIC-Program Manager to discuss ideas on marketing and promoting HAP's farmers market to more WIC recipients. HAP with WIC staff to distributed surveys to WIC recipient families. We hope to use that data to get a better understanding of participants' thoughts/needs and uses of FMNP/WIC vouchers. With farmers markets up and running staff is working tirelessly to make sure it is successful and worthwhile for the farmers.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
October marked the end of HAP's farmers' markets at the HAP-Arcade & Arlington Hills Lutheran Church (AHLC) locations for the year. Both markets were successful in that they were able to provide fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to the food desert community in the East Side of Saint Paul. At the same time, the market allowed the Southeast Asian farmers to gain ownership and self-reliance at their respective markets. Farmer Y.Y. reported great satisfaction for selling at the AHLC farmers market. She also built good relationships with neighbors and community members during the summer. Additionally, October marked the end of the nine-week Nutrition Education program HAP partners with the University of Minnesota-Extension's SNAP Program. SNAP Educator, Shirley Vang, provided nutrition education and healthy food demonstrations to the community during the market season. November is generally a slow month for the program and staff due to the end of the farm season. Staff met with its partners: Interfaith Action, Arlington Hills Lutheran Church (AHLC), and Arlington Hills Community Center (AHCC) to continue strategizing for next year's farmers' markets. Topics discussed were how to improve community outreach for better market attendance and whether or not to move the market area to better attract traffic. HAP and its partners are working hard to improve the farmers market in order to accomplish its goals. Finally, partners discussed an issue during the previous season - this was the lack of MDA-FMNP trainings to Southeast Asian farmers. HAP is working hard this year to secure trainings so that Southeast Asian farmers can be WIC/FMNP certified to sell at markets. Community partnerships continued to play a key role in our efforts to achieve program goals. Program staff held ongoing (monthly) meetings with Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (ORLC) to plan for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) that the church would host during the 2016 season. Meeting topics included upcoming events, market times, and marketing strategies. As a result of this planning, the Minnesota Hmong Agriculture Co-op (MHAC) joined as a CSA partner and the parties worked together to establish pricing and shares. HAP program staff also met with UMN-Extension in order to develop a plan to get WIC families more involved in local community food access and programs. The discussion included ways to mitigate the challenges to involvement, such as childcare and time commitment. Additionally, staff met with Arlington Hills Lutheran Church and Arlington Hills Community Center to plan for the 2016 market. They discussed upcoming events, market times, and marketing strategies.After much planning, staff and partners hosted the 2016 market opening on June 23rd. It was held on the same night as Saint Paul Police Department's "Safe Summer Nights," which drew hundreds of people from neighboring communities. Because of its proximity to this event, the market did see a slight increase in attendance. However, because it was early in the season, farmers were disappointed that they had less produce than they would have wanted to meet the need.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes Southeast Asian immigrant/refugee farmers, low-income consumers, including WIC recipients, and lastly, the food desert area community of east St. Paul, Minnesota. Changes/Problems:HAP initially applied for four farmers market location permits throughout the east side of St. Paul. However, due to the city of St. Paul's zoning restrictions (new this year), two of our market applications were rejected. We met with City of St. Paul's senior city planner, Anton Jerve, to discuss the next steps in getting our market locations approved. With support from Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, Arlington Hills Community Center, and the City of St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department, we were able to re-apply. The Arlington Hills location was a huge success for the vendors and for the community. We have faced several challenges this season that we are struggling to address. First, regular vendor attendance as been a significant challenge. Many of our vendors did not have produce ready until later in the season because they do not have greenhouse or indoor space to start seedlings early. We will keep this in mind fo next year when selecting vendors and setting start dates for markets.. Finally, we would like to get WIC families more involved in our programs and are working with WIC staff to create innovative ways to accomplish this. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?HAP staff participated on the planning committee for the Immigrant and Minority Confefrence. Because of this, staff has networking opportunities with members of the MDA, University of MN Extension staff and faculty and FArmers' Legal Action Group staff members. On April 21, 2015, HAP provided an orientation for HAP farmers' market vendors. The purpose of this meeting was to educate vendors on the rules and regulations of the markets. Vendors also received their Minnesota Grown vending packets at this meeting. On April 22, 2015, HAP and MDA hosted the WIC/Farmers Market Nutrition Program training where HAP vendors, along with vendors from across the w=twin cities, attended to obtain certification by the MDA to accept WIC/FMNP vouchers at authorized markets. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?During this year HAP has utilized a variety of marketing and communications tools to publicize award funds including program activities: 1) Social media tools such as facebook and twitter 2) Posting new program activities and news via HAP's website and our partner's websites 3 )Media releases to local news sources such as EAst Side Review, Hmong radio stations, etc. 4) Resources and industry-based fairs and events such as Immigrant Minorities Farmers Conference, Hmong National Development Conference, etc. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?HAP plans to continue reaching out to the community to recruit more vendors for our markets, along with promoting our current markets. We hope to be as successful as other farmers markets in the area such as St. Paul Farmers Market and Sun Foods Farmers Market. Additionally, we will continue to work alongside WIC management and staff to better promote farmers market produce to WIC participants. For example, we want to survey current WIC participants to determine interest in farmers market, along with specific produce they would purchase for their families. We will continue to work with WIC staff to recruit more WIC participants for the nutrition program. This is important because we want to educate as many families as can to improve their health and diet.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During our first year, HAP has established two farmers' markets on the east side of St. Paul. These markets were located at the HAP Arcade Office and Arlington Hills Lutheran Church and Community Center. Both markets are strategically placed near WIC offices and within food desert communities on the east side of St. Paul. The markets had ten Southeast Asian vendors and HAP provided the support and space for them to operate, increase visibility and sales, and make fresh produce available to WIC and other low-income consumers. In return, our vendors provide locally grown fruits and vegetables to the community on a weekly basis. HAP partnered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and coordinated a training to get local vendors certified in teh state of Minnesota to accept WIC/FMNP vouchers. This option has reduced barriers to low income consumers and allowed WIC recipients to easily purchase fruits and vegetables from HAP WIC/FMNP certified vendors at the HAP Arcade market. HAP also partnered with the University of Minnesota Extension and b egan our nutrition program during the open market times. The nutrition program consists of a six-week classroom-based intervention followed by a 6-week intervention facilitated by UMN-Extension SNAP educator, Shirley Vang in which she provided evidence-based nutritional education and cooking demonstrations to low-income families in the community. This helped low-income consumers better understand the relationship between diet and health. In our nutrition education program, HAP served 40 families. The average number of people walking through the markets were 20 people for the HAP Arcade market and 30 people for the Arlington Hills market. Currently, we are averaging about 1 WIC voucher per vendor per market time.Vendor#1reported averaging $40 per market at HAP Arcade and $80 per market at the Arlington Hills market. Vendor #2 reported revenue of $60 per market at HAP Arcade Market. Vendor #3 mentioned that the Arlington Hills market is not as busy as other St. Paul area markets, however, she enjoyed vending there and averaged approximately $100 per market in revenue. The HAP Nutrition program conducted six demonstration sessions with low-income consumers at our HAP Arcade and Arlington Hills Community Center market locations. Session descriptions are as follows: 1. Introduction to the purpose of the demonstrations sessions, introduction of the My Plate concept and discussion about how to fill your plate with healthy food in the proper amounts to balance carbohydrate, fat and protein consumption. 2. Lesson on exchanging white rice for whole grain rice, tofu, more protein and different types of protein. Discussed how to include more healthy, low-fat options as well as fruits and vegetables. Referred back to My Plate concept from the first week and demonstrated cooking Fried Rice Tofu. 3. Lesson on incorporating different vegetables that participants may not have tried before and providing instruction on how to eat and cook them. Discussed mixing in different types of vegetables to add variety and reiterate the importance to health of eating more fruits and vegetables. Demonstratede cooking Kohlrabi and carrot slaw. 4. Lesson on learning about fruits and what they do for the body regarding vitamins and minerals. Discussion about the bodies needs for vitamins and minerals and how vegetables and fruits can be mixed together. Demonstrated cooking summer salad with mango and coconut and how to make fruit dressing. Dressing demonstration showed how a more healthful and economical dressing can be made. 5. Lesson on additional sources of protein that are healthier than beef or other red meats. Discussed how using canned vegetables affects nutritional content as opposed to fresh vegetables. Seasoning of food to limit salt was also discussed and it was shown how seasonings can be used to reduce salt intake. Demonstrated preparation of turkey chili. 6. Cooking demonstration on white bean dip as an alternative to high fat, high calorie prepared dips. This healthy alternative dip is also more ecnomical for the family to prepare at home as well as higher in health value to commercial dips like french onion, ranch dip, cheese dip, etc. Ms. Shirley Vang performed cooking demonsrations and lessons.
Publications
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