Progress 05/15/16 to 11/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Our primarytarget audience was SNAP participants in the City of Madison and Dane County, WI. Our secondary target audience included vendors and market managers at Dane County farmers markets. Changes/Problems:Positive Change: Sustaining Double Dollars: To sustain the Double Dollars program in the future, the partners will continue to raise funds from such partners as the Chef's Network, local foundations, and the Dane County Healthcare Coalition. Members/customers of the Williamson Street Grocery Coop will be solictied for donations to the program. Additional fundraising approaches will be pursued. By far the most significant, stable funding source is the Coop's "Bag Credit." In the past, when shoppers returned used shopping bags, they were credited a $.10 credit on their bill. However, beginning in summer 2017, the Coop began to apply this credit to the Double Dollars program and added a credit for each reusable bag used to the fund. The Coop projects that annually, this credit may bring in $80,000 to the Double Dollars fund. These funds, to be administered by the Community Action Coalition, will be used to pay the redemption of Double Dollars at farmers markets and at the Coop. Challenges: 1.) We need todeliberately connect the incentive program with nutrition education. Without the education element, we feel that the program is not sufficientlyeffective at changing diet behavior. In some settings, nutrition educators were able to connect healthy diet with the Double Dollars program. However, this did not take place at farmers markets (except Centro Hispaon's Mercadito), because the educators could not guarantee that the audience at farmers markets were income-eligible or SNAP eligible. 2.) We did not engage communities of color to the extent that we intended. To be more effective in this area, we need to support more work such as the combination health/nutrition/market workshops at Centro Hispano and other community-based programs. 3.) We need to develop a common currency between the Coop and farmers market programs.The program is difficult for shoppers to understand, and havingdifferent forms of currency makes matters more difficult. 4.) Longer term, we need a swipe card to manage redemption and collect data. 5.) To expand to more distant farmers markets, we would need to have additional staff. This does not seem feasible in the near term. 6.) To expand to more retail settings, we need to build the expectation among retailers that they must also raise funds, just as the Coop has done, to support the program. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training/professional development was not an identified goal of our FINI pilot.However, as a result of her experience developing and fielding the 2016survey offarmers market participants, our evaluation intern was hired as the EBT/Double Dollars Coordinator at farmers markets by Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin, who managed the FINI project at the farmers markets. This young woman had just graduated from UW-Madison with a BS in Community & Environmental Sociology with a concentration on food systems and food security.She notes that the FINI project had a "direct positive effect" on hercareer. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have or will share outcomes in the following ways: 1.) Specific reports on Double Dollars usage at each market will be sent to individual market managers to be shared with vendors in March 2018. 2.) Outcomes of the Dane County Double Dollars program have been shared with nutrition incentive programs around Wisconsin. These include:Fondy Food Centers in Milwaukee; UW-Eau Claire Extension; Farmshed in Stevens Point; LIVE 54218 in Green Bay. 3.) Outcomes of the Dane County Double Dollars program have been shared with the Wisconsin FoodShare Office, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 4.) We are compiling comments from interviews of Double Dollars customers conducted at the 2017 farmers markets.These will be shared on social media to alert the general public to the program and its benefits. 5.) The data has been shared with the FINI Double Dollars partners, who are engaged in sustaining and improving the program. 6.) The Williamson Street Grocery Coop has reported on the Double Dollars program in Annual Reports to its 36,000 members and in the monthly Coop Reader newsletter. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IMPACT STATEMENT: This FINI Pilot Project has built upon a small City of Madison-sponsored Double Dollars program to improve access to healthy, locally produced foods among lower-income people. Our goals have been to expand the number and diversity of Double Dollar participants and participating outlets, develop a year-round program, and build local, sustainable financial support for the program. During the 18-month project period, we made significant progress toward these goals. We brought together a group of partners committed to strengthening the program; increased the number of participating farmers markets and vendors; increased the number of weeks Double Dollars were offered at farmers markets; added 3 retail outlets to create a nearly year-round Double Dollars program; developed a new stable local funding source; maintained and increased the support of existing funding sources; garneredWholesome Wave grant funding for a 1-year FVRx pilot project; and, assisted the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services in its application for a FINI grant to support a statewide Double Dollars project. As FINI funds come to an end, the local partnership,which includes the community action agency,local government, Public Health, USDA Extension educators, a local grocery cooperative, a Latino social service organization, and 8 individual farmers markets, is engaged and optimistic about the potential to grow the program.We will continue to develop new ways to expand Double Dollars, with special emphasis onthe neighborhood farmers markets and on engaging communities of color in the program. Note on outcome reporting: Our Project Period, with a no cost extension, ran from 05/15/16 - 11/14/2017.The extension enabled us to implement the FINI pilot over onecomplete farmers market season (07/16 - 12/16) andone completeretail market season (10/26/16 - 3/31/17). However, the Project Period ended on 11/14/17, a month before the end of the second farmers market season (12/31/17) and captured only one month of the second retail season (10/24/17 - 5/31/18).To show impact, some of our outcomes below report data captured after the end of the FINI project. Goal: To increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP participants. Objective:To double the number of farmers' markets offering the Double Dollars incentive from 4 to 8. Outcome 2016: 7 Dane County farmers markets participated in Double Dollars. Outcome 2017: 8 Dane County markets took part in Double Dollars. Objective:To introduce the Double Dollars Program in two retail locations after the outdoor market seasonends. Outcome 10/2016 - 3/17: 3 Williamson Street Grocery Coop stores took part in Double Dollars. Outcome 10/2017 - 5/18: 3 Coop stores are currently taking part. Objective: To increase the amount of Double Dollars redeemed from $22,795 to at least $90,000 Outcome 7/16 - 3/17: $35,829 was redeemed at farmers markets and $45,824at grocery stores, for a total of $81,653. Outcome 6/17 - 3/18 (projected): $51,648 was redeemed at farmers markets. From 10/24/17 -2/11/18, $24,345 was redeemed at Coop grocery stores. At the current monthly rate of redemption, approximately $40,000 will be redeemed by 3/31/18.By 5/31/18,the end of this period ofCoop Double Dollars, $48,800 will be redeemed. (These conservative estimates fall outside the FINI project period and are included here to demonstrate theimpact of the project.) Objective:To increase the amount of unduplicated new users from 197 to 400. Outcome 7/16 - 12/16:384 new customers used Double Dollars at farmers markets. Outcome 6/17 - 12/17:405 new customers used Double Dollars at farmers markets. Objective:To increase the total number of unduplicated customers from 354 to 1,500. Outcome 6/16 - 3/17: 622 unique shoppers used Double Dollars at farmers markets; 950 Coop ownersused Double Dollars at the Coop. The total 1572 may include duplication between the two sets of customers. Also, the Coop point of sale system collected data only on Coop owners using Double Dollars, not on those who were not owners. Outcome 6/17 - 12/17: 774 unique shoppers used Double Dollars at farmers markets during this period. The Coop point of salesystem did not collect this data during this period. Goal: To increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among SNAP participants. Objective:To demonstrate through pre and post participant surveys a reported increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables. Outcome 7/16 - 12/16: Among Double Dollar participants at farmers markets, 121 completed a pre-survey and 67 completed a post survey. Of those who completed a post-survey, 51% said they increased their vegetable consumption after using Double Dollars. While a pre-survey was completed by 43 customers at the Coop, a post-survey was not conducted. Outcome 6/17 - 12/17: 63 Double Dollars customers from 7 farmers markets were interviewed using 4 "guiding questions" to determine the impact of the program. The interview approach captured a holistic attitude of appreciation for the program. 32 of those interviewed reported that Double Dollars made it possible for them to purchase more fresh produce,cook and eat healthy foods, and support local farmers. Goal: To increase educational activities at farmers' markets to promote healthy eating among SNAP participants. Objective:At least 100 people will participate in nutrition and cooking classes offered through program partner, Centro Hispano. Outcome 7/16 - 12/16: 47 unduplicated individuals, including 12 children, participated in Centro's health, nutrition, and gardening workshops: "Let's Get Healthy this Summer"(12 Sessions); and, "The Earth Made My Lunch" (10 Sessions). During this period, an average of 50 people attended the weekly "Farmers Market Cooking Demos and Double Dollars Information" (20 market sessions) There may be duplication between the two count groups. Outcome 6/17 - 12/17: An average of 90 people attended the weekly "Farmers Market Cooking Demos and Double Dollars Information"(17 sessions); Data on attendance at other programs is not available. Objective:Increase the presence of nutrition educators at farmers' markets that are participating in the Double Dollars program. Outcome: We did not achieve this objective at farmers markets. FoodWise educators presented nutrition education as part of Centro Hispano's health/nutrition classes (see outcome above.) In other community settings, such as food pantries and neighborhood centers, the nutrition educators provided nutrition education and promoted the Double Dollars program. However, they were not involved in nutrition education at farmers markets. (Please see discussion under "Changes/Problems" below.) Goal: To increase economic activity at farmers' markets. Objective:Demonstrate an increase in total sales from SNAP transactions at all farmers' markets participating in the Double Dollars program from 2015 to 2016. Outcome 7/16 - 12/15/16: $35,829 was redeemed at farmers markets. Outcome 6/17 - 12/14/17: $51,648 was redeemed at farmers markets Objective:To demonstrate an increase in vendors participating in Double Dollars at the smallest farmers' markets. Outcome 7/16 - 12/16: 261 vendors at all markets, including the large Dane County Farmer's Market, participated in Double Dollars at least one time. Many of these vendors participate in more than one of the markets. Outcome 6/17 - 12/17:365 vendors at all markets, and 157 at small neighborhood markets, participated in Double Dollars at least one time.
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Progress 05/15/16 to 05/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Our project sought to reach: SNAP participants in Dane County, WI, especially people living nearneighborhood farmers markets SNAPparticipants in Dane County, WI,, especially people of color SNAP participants who are customers at the Williamson St. Grocery Co-op Farmers Market Vendors and Market Managers The broader public Changes/Problems:During the one-year period, we were notsuccessful at achieving two of our goals: connecting Double Dollars participants with nutrition education at the point of sale; and, engaging more people of color in the Double Dollars program. With regard to nutrition education, we found the following:During scheduled group nutrition teaching sessions held at Centro Hispano, neighborhood centers, and other sites, nutrition educatorsfrom the Dane County-UW Extensionwere effective at informing participants about healthy food resources, including Double Dollars andEBT at farmers markets. However, we learned that the FoodWise educators were not able to have a presence at farmers markets or at the Willy St. Co-op (ourFINI retail site). This was the case because the Extensionhad no way of ensuring that learnersin these locations are indeed SNAP-eligibile.During the pilot project extension, we are reaching out to other counties to find out how nutrition educators there engage withmarkets. We have also started a nutrition education series at the Co-op, "Cooking Matters at the Store." To engage participation by people of color who are SNAP users, we must continue to reach out to Latino, African American, and Asian households. This is a challenging task because these groups often do not see the foods they want at the market, may not know how to prepare the produce that is available, and perceive the markets and the Co-op as being expensive and middle-class. Our neighborhood markets do their best to reach out to lower income neighbors.Diversifying the vendors and produce at markets is happening, whichwill be helpful in achieveing this goal. Market and grocery store tours will help to familiarize new customers to these resources.We will continue to work with Centro Hispano and other service providers to connect to communities of color. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Trainiing/professional development was not an identifiedgoal of the FINI pilot. However, as a result of her experience developing and fielding the survey of Double Dollar participants, our evaluation intern was hiredas theEBT/Double Dollar Coordinator at farmers markets by Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin. This young woman had just graduated from UW-Madison with a BS in Community & Environmental Sociology with a concentration on food system and security. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As we near the completion of our extended project in November 2017, we will disseminate results tothe communitiy. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the 6-month period of the extension, we will continue to operate Double Dollars at local farmers markets.We are focusing on the folllowing changes: We are working withthe Dane County-UW Extension to develop a list of education classes offered through Extension and making those listsavailable at the market. There has been some interest from insurance companies to help provide cooking demos and recipes at the markets but to date nothing has been established. We are making a greater effort to reach out to people of color.Avenues of promotion include: WIC; tabling at the River Food Pantry; Northside "community navigators"are promoting the Northside Farmers Market, located near neighborhoods with large populations of color; Centro Hispano has done significant outreach to promote its farmersmarket; and, We are working to bring a new market - theBadger Rock Market - into theDouble Dollars network. This market is located ina neighborhood with large populations of color. We are working to increase the number of farmers markets offering Double Dollars. A new market - theMonroe Street Farmers' Market joined the program in August and will run through the end of October. When markets go indoors, we aim to add Badger Rock Market to the mix for a total of 4-5 markets operating in November and December.. We are adding more EBT signage at markets, working on a new website, and running Facebook adds. These are new promotion strategies.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IMPACT STATEMENT: This FINI Pilot Project has sought to build upon a small, City of Madison sponsored Double Dollars program to improve access to healthy, locally produced foods among lower-income people. We aimed to expand the number and racial/ethnic diversity of Double Dollar participants and participating outlets, develop a year-round program, and build local, sustainable financial support for the program.During the initial one-year grant period (we are continuing the grant-funded project via a 6-month no-cost extension), wemade significant progress toward achieving these goals. Weincreased the number of participating farmers markets from 4 to 7; added 3 retail store outlets (in one grocery cooperative); extended Double Dollar through winter; increased the number of participants; developeda new stable local funding source; and, maintained and increased the support of existing funding sources. Less tangible, but critical, outcomes include strengtheningthe Double Dollars partnership, which includeslocal government, public health, USDA extension educators, as well as the farmersmarket and retail network.As we start the new farmers market season, we hear from returning SNAP participants how glad they are that the project has been sustained, from vendors who agree thatthe Double Dollars project provides them an additional customer base, and from new farmers marketsand a farm stand who want to add EBT capacity and become a Double Dollars site.Additionally, the interest and enthusiasm of the project partners led to applying for and receiving a "food as medicine," or FVRx, grant from Wholesome Wave.This grant has enabled Madison to explore providing incentives to eligible patients of a local clinic(many of whom are SNAP users) to purchase fresh produce at a grocery cooperative.This project may lead to more substantial FVRx efforts. It is unlikely that we would have undertaken the project were it not for the FINI project experience. Goal: To increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP participants. Objective:To double the number of farmers' markets offering the Double Dollars incentive from 4 to 8. Outcome: Seven Dane County farmers markets participated in Double Dollars Objective:To introduce the Double Dollars Program in two retail locations after the outdoor market season ends. Outcome: Three stores of the Williamson St. Grocery Co-op took part in Double Dollars, 10/04/16-04/02/17. Objective: To increase the amount of Double Dollars redeemed from $22,795 to at least $90,000 Outcome: A total of $84,461.41 in Double Dollars incentives was redeemed at farmers markets and grocery stores. Objective:To increase the amount of unduplicated new users from 197 to 400. Using the last four digits of the Quest card, a unique identifier, we were able to see that 384 new customers used Double Dollars at area farmers markets. in 2016. This information was not captured by the POS system at the grocery stores. Objective: To increase the total amount of unduplicated customers from 354 to 1,500. Outcome: Using the last four digits of the QUEST card, a unique identifier, it was found that 622 unique shoppers participated in the program at area farmers markets.696 Co-op owners who were SNAPcustomersused Double Dollars at the Co-op. While the program was new to the Co-op, there is someduplication between the farmers market and grocery store groups. Also, the Co-op POS system could only count unduplicated owners. SNAP participants who were not owners but used Double Dollars at the Co-op were not counted. Goal: To increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables amongst SNAP participants. Objective:To demonstrate through pre and post participant surveys a reported increase in fruits and vegetables. Outcome: Among Double Dollars participatns at farmers markets, 121 completed a pre-survey and 67 completed a post survey. Of those who completed a post survey, 51% said they increased their vegetable consumption after using Double Dollars; Goal: To increase educational activities at farmers' markets to promote healthy eating amongst SNAP participants. Objective:At least 100 people will participate in nutrition and cooking classes through program partner, Centro Hispano. Outcome: 82 individuals,inlcuding 12 children, participated in Centro Hispano's health,nutrition, and gardeningworkshops: "Let's Get Healthy this Summer" (12 sessions); "The Earth Made My Lunch" (10 sessions); and "Farmers Market Cooking Demos and Double Dollars Information" (20 sessions). Objective: :Increase the presence of nutrition educators at farmers' markets that are participating in the Double Dollars program. Outcome: We did not achieve this goal. FoodWise educators presented nutrition educationwithin Centro Hispano's health/nutrition classes. In other community settings they provided nutrition education and promoted the Double Dollars program. However, they were not involved in nutrition education at farmers markets.(Please see discussion under "Changes/Problems" below.) . Goal: To increase economic activity at farmers' markets. Objective: Demonstrate an increase in total sales from SNAP transactions at all farmers' markets participating in the Double Dollars program from 2015 to 2016. Outcome: $35, 637 was redeemed at farmers markets, a 56% increase over 2015; Objective:To demonstrate an increase in vendors at the smallest farmers' markets. Seven Dane County farmers markets participated, including 261 vendors with eligible products. An average of 196 vendors participated each week. We do not have a comparable figure for 2015.
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