Progress 07/01/17 to 06/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) serves two main target audiences: California SNAP shoppers and California fruit and vegetable farmers. Under this grant, California SNAP shoppers were encouraged to spend their SNAP benefits at Certified Farmers' Markets and mobile markets, where they received a matching incentive to purchase additional California grown fruits and vegetables. SNAP shoppers were reached through a variety of outreach methods, including mailings and outreach in coordination with local social service offices, signage, marketing and community promotion. Over the course of this grant, CNIP saw approximately 622,017 SNAP transactions, including 63,559 new SNAP customers. CNIP distributed $4,803,670 in incentive dollars to SNAP shoppers, and generated over $7,217,049 in SNAP spending at these markets. This spending was at 325 Certified Farmers Markets and mobile market sites, which directly benefited CNIP's other target audience - California farmers. California's Certified Farmers' Markets allow California farmers to directly sell their products to consumers. By increasing SNAP redemption and incentive distribution and redemption at these markets, CNIP helps increase the demand for California grown fresh fruits and vegetables and directly supports those farmers selling at participating markets. Changes/Problems:The greatest challenge was trying to meet an increasing demand for incentives with a limited amount of funding and inflexibilities with transferring incentives from some sub-grantees to others. Several factors contributed to a much higher than anticipated incentive demand. Separate from this project, First5 Los Angeles had previously matched both WIC and SNAP benefits at approximately 35 farmers' markets in Los Angeles for families with children under five. However, First5 Los Angeles stopped matching these benefits in September 2018. Many customers who had gotten their other benefits matched under this other program switched over to using SNAP and having their benefits matched through CNIP, causing an increase in demand in Los Angeles. Additionally, in June 2019, Californians receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) finally became eligible to enroll in SNAP and many of these participants started using their new SNAP benefits at farmers' markets. Traditionally, Californians receiving SSI were not eligible to receive SNAP benefits due to a cash-out policy that had been put in place decades ago. However, the California Legislature directed the Department of Social Services to reverse this policy, making those SSI recipients eligible for SNAP. Several farmers' markets, including the Heart of the City farmers' market in San Francisco, serve a large population of SSI recipients. After the SSI cash-out reversal, demand for nutrition incentives at Heart of the City and many other farmers' markets skyrocketed. At the Heart of the City Farmers' Market (the site that distributes the highest volume of nutrition incentives in the state), between August 2018 and August 2019, the monthly number of SNAP customers served increased by 71%. Lastly, the outreach efforts that were conducted during the grant period by CDFA and its subgrantees were successful at increasing demand for incentives. Demand increased both in counties that had previously seen low incentive usage (Fresno, Stanislaus, and Santa Barbara), as well as in several counties that were already seeing high utilization (Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa). Although we consider this a success, the increase in demand for incentives was higher than expected, making it challenging to meet the demand and ensure that incentive funding would last through the end of 2019. Another challenge was that while most markets needed additional incentives, several markets overbudgeted incentives but the State of California contracting process did not allow us to reallocate those incentives to the over-preforming markets. This resulted in leaving some of the federal funds that had been obligated to these subgrantees on the table, while at the same time scrambling to find additional state funds to meet the incentive demand at other markets. CDFA is exploring a legislative fix that would allow the Secretary to reallocate future unspent funds. Luckily, the State of California was able to contribute additional funding toward the program to help cover the increase in demand and its subgrantee the Ecology Center was able to shift some funds from other activities to cover the increased demand. CDFA had originally proposed issuing $3,694,574 in incentives over the course of this grant; but was able to issue $4,803,670 instead - more than $1 million than initially planned. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?CDFA's subgrantee, the Ecology Center, conducted 14 live training webinars during the grant. Two of these trainings were specifically geared towards onboarding ICs (new farmers' market operators) and getting them up to speed on program and grant requirements. Two of the webinars provided training on invoicing and reporting requirements. These webinars were required for new ICs and were also made available to returning ICs. The remaining ten webinars provided ongoing training and program updates. Some of the topics covered included outreach efforts and strategies, updates related to state and national evaluation efforts, invoicing and reporting reminders and best practices, partner spotlights, and policy updates. Two conferences, called the Market Match Face-to-Face Meeting, were held during the grant on February 5-6, 2018 and March 4-5, 2019 for all ICs. The conferences provide an opportunity to deliver program updates, share best practices, and offer an opportunity for ICs to network with one another. The 2018 event was attended by 86 individuals, and the 2019 event was attended by 81 individuals. At both meetings, general session topics included state-of-the-program updates from the Ecology Center, updates from CDFA and state evaluators, and state and national policy updates. Breakout sessions covered topics such as innovative outreach strategies, at-market tools and best practices, digital marketing strategies, cultivating community partnerships, using evaluation results, fraud prevention and safety, and discussion groups for rural markets and third-party operators. After each Face-to-Face Meeting, the Ecology Center sent out surveys to ICs collecting feedback on the timing and format of the event, the topics covered, and areas for improvement. ICs and other partners have consistently said that the Face-to-Face Meeting is the most important training and networking opportunity of the year. It's the one time of year where all partners from across the state are together in one room, and offers both an opportunity for program operators to share best practices, learn from one another, and get inspired by the collective impact of the group. CDFA and its subgrantee the Ecology Center, also conducted site visits. CDFA conducted site visits for each sub-grantee (12 sites for the Ecology Center, and all sites for the other subgrantees). The Ecology Center conducted site visits with at least one farmers' market from each IC annually. In total, the Ecology Center conducted 87 site visits with ICs (42 in Period 1, and 45 in Periods 2 and 3). For each site visit, an interview template was used to document grant compliance and create a site visit report with photos. Visiting participating markets in-person ensures grant compliance, by verifying that ICs are following program rules and collecting all required data. It also offers an important to build relationships with ICs, offer one-on-one support, and learn best practices by observing diverse outreach and implementation strategies across the state. The Ecology Center also maintains a partners-only back end version of the MarketMatch.org website, where ICs can access notes and recordings from all webinars and trainings; find a comprehensive Market Match toolkit with templates, program requirements, and best practices; and access a data portal where they can see all Market Match and CalFresh distribution and redemption data and customer counts for their own markets as well as the entire state. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?CDFA has shared the results of the program with stakeholders, including State government officials (Legislators, Governor's Office, CDFA Leadership, and other state departments). Evaluation results and updates on the program were shared with market managers and stakeholders through the Face-to-Face Meetings, as well as through webinar presentations and email communications. CDFA has also presented on the program to the State Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC), which is comprised of all California State Agencies and Departments and SNAP-Ed implementing organizations that work with USDA food and nutrition funding, including the Department of Social Services, Department of Public Health, and Department of Education. SNAC members, in turn, partnered with CDFA to disseminate information to their local county offices in high need areas to promote CNIP to SNAP shoppers. CDFA also posts information about the program and publicizes it through the CDFA blog and press releases, and presents on webinars and conferences. CDFA's subgrantee the Ecology Center also presented on the program through a number of forums including: the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the San Francisco Food Security Task Force, the California Small Farms Conference and on a webinar hosted by the Food Trust on SNAP Incentives at Rural Markets. The Ecology Center also co-hosted a press conference, with Assemblymember Phil Ting, at the Heart of the City farmers' market, after funding was allocated in the State's budget to continue the California Nutrition Incentive Program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Over the course of this project, the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) provided incentives (most commonly known as "Market Match") at 328 unique farmers markets and mobile market sites. $4,803,670 incentives were distributed and $4,641,575 redeemed. These incentives supported the health and wellbeing of SNAP shoppers as well as California specialty crop farmers. CNIP incentives could only be used for California grown fresh fruits and vegetables, directly increasing demand for these products. As part of this program, $7,217,049 in SNAP benefits were distributed through 622,017 SNAP transactions. Together with the nutrition incentives, there was a total of $12,020,719 distributed at 325 farm-direct sites across the state. These dollars directly support the small and mid-size farmers selling at these Certified Farmers' Markets and mobile markets, as well as the local economy. Using the SNAP economic multiplier ($1.79), this translates to $21,517,087 in economic activity. The program was wildly successful and popular among both program participants and farmers. Compared to the goals set in the original proposal, 30% more incentives were distributed. This successful expansion of the program was made possible through targeted outreach efforts, strong partnerships with county and state agencies, careful monitoring and the hard work of the many partners involved. Goal 1: CNIP increased the direct purchase of California grown fruits and vegetables by SNAP (CalFresh) shoppers. 1.1 CNIP distributed $4,803,670 of fruit and vegetables incentives at the point of purchase (30% more than proposed) and over $7,217,049 in SNAP, for a total of $12,020,719 over 622,017 SNAP transactions at 328 sites. 1.2 Created an estimated $21,517,087 in economic activity as measured by the SNAP economic multiplier (1.79) times the number of incentives and number of SNAP purchases. All these purchases were made at farm-direct outlets, directly supporting California farmers. 1.3 In 2017 and 2018, 11 and 6 new Implementing Contractors and their sites were brought on respectively. However, because of the increased demand for incentives at existing sites, there was not enough funding to expand to as many sites as initially proposed. 1.4 Data was collected from 328 sites through the Market Match data portal, the Westat National Evaluation tool and through state evaluation efforts led by the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California. All data was reviewed, scrubbed, and analyzed before being used or reported. 1.5 State policies and procedures were created for the California Nutrition Incentive Program. The program was renewed with additional funding by the Legislature to continue after the close of this grant. Goal 2: The program tested technological innovations and found that the FM tracks tool was not ideal for the California markets, but that bar-coded scrip management worked well at larger farmers' markets. 2.1 FM Tracks was initially piloted at 22 sites. An in-person session, two training webinars, a step-by-step manual, and individual phone assistance were provided. After the pilot period, it was determined that FM Tracks was not a good fit. Rather than continuing to expand to additional sites, funding for this aspect of the project was redirected to improve the existing Market Match database and data portal. Additional functionality included: the ability to display more detailed data sets, the ability to download defined data sets, the ability to connect market location details to reporting data, and improvements to reduce errors. 2.2 Improvements were made to bar-coded scrip tracking systems that significantly improved the speed and efficiency of the system used by one of the farmers' markets operators. The changes were made and tested in the fall of 2017, and implemented across 55 markets in 2018 and 2019. With these enhancements, the time that it takes market staff to process scrip at the conclusion of a farmers' market and prepare scrip for the next market has dropped by approximately 20%. 2.3 After testing FM Tracks, most markets concluded that it was less effective than previous redemption systems and chose not to move forward with FM Tracks. While disappointing, this pilot provided useful information. Bar-coded scrip systems were found to be much more cost-effective and efficient. Goal 3: Several different outreach and promotional strategies were used to attract SNAP shoppers to participating farmers' market and mobile market sites. 3.1 Several different methods were used to reach potential SNAP shoppers: partnering with county SNAP agencies to direct-mail SNAP households, offering trainings and presentations for SNAP outreach and enrollment workers, partnering with county SNAP agencies to send out text messages, running paid ads on Facebook, and working with the State Nutrition Action Committee to use their local resources to reach SNAP shoppers. In total, approximately 1,341,907 households were reached. Additional outreach was limited because there was not enough funding to meet the resulting demand for incentives. 3.2 Wellington Square Certified Farmers' Market hosted monthly nutrition incentive festivals. The festivals created a family-friendly atmosphere- including nutrition education/cooking demonstrations, activities, and live music. First time SNAP shoppers attending the market on festival days received a $20 incentive to spend on fruits and vegetables. Repeat SNAP shoppers received $10 of incentives to spend on fruits and vegetables. To reach new SNAP shoppers, the market sent out mailers, distributed postcards through community partners, and increased signage for the festivals. 626 new SNAP shoppers attended the festivals. 3.3 Outreach strategies were evaluated, including flyers and text messages, as well as efforts by the State Nutrition Action Committee and the findings presented in reports. Goal 4: Capacity was developed and technical assistance was provided to subgrantees, implementation contractors, and individual market managers. 4.1 Both CDFA and the Ecology Center provided technical assistance. Types of technical assistance provided included help with operation, administration, promotion, compliance, outreach, and quality assurance. Technical assistance was provided through 14 training webinars, 102 individual site visits, access to the Market Match partners' website and toolkit, training manuals, reporting and data collection templates, monitoring of monthly spending, and one-on-one support. 4.2 All Implementing Contractors (ICs) were convened for two-day Face-to-Face meetings in February 2018 and March 2019 where statewide programmatic updates and accomplishments were shared by the Ecology Center, CDFA, and state evaluators. ICs had the opportunity to network and share best practices with other Market Match operators through 16 breakout session workshops and discussion roundtables annually. Workshop topics included innovative outreach strategies, data collection best practices, reporting and invoicing best practices, digital marketing strategies, and discussion groups for rural markets and third-party operators. Additionally, the Ecology Center conducted 14 training webinars. 4.3 CDFA and subgrantee the Ecology Center presented to external audiences including state and local leaders and national audiences through the FINI project directors meeting, Westat community webinars. Additionally, CDFA's external evaluator created several reports sharing the knowledge they have gathered during their evaluation. These look at fruit and vegetable consumption among SNAP shoppers using CNIP incentives at farmers' markets compared to SNAP customers shopping at nearby stores, food insecurity levels, and price differentials between farmers markets and nearby stores.
Publications
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Progress 07/01/18 to 06/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) serves two main target audiences: California SNAP shoppers and California fruit and vegetable farmers. California SNAP shoppers are encouraged to spend their SNAP benefits at Certified Farmers' Markets, where they can receive a matching incentive to purchase additional California grown fruits and vegetables. SNAP shoppers are reached through a variety of outreach methods, including mailings and outreach in coordination with local social service offices, signage, marketing and community promotion. In this past reporting period (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019), CNIP saw approximately 200,000 transactions, including over 21,896 new SNAP customers. CNIP distributed $1.8 million in incentive dollars to SNAP shoppers, and generated over $2.6 million in CalFresh spending at these markets. This spending is at 275 Certified Farmers Markets and mobile market sites, which directly benefits CNIP's other target audience - California farmers. California's Certified Farmers' Markets allow California farmers to directly sell their products to consumers. By increasing SNAP redemption and incentive distribution and redemption at these markets, CNIP helps increase the demand for California grown fresh fruits and vegetables and directly supports those farmers selling at participating markets. Changes/Problems:A number of participating markets have been above or below their projected incentive distribution goal. A few markets have fallen short of their estimates for incentives, primarily resulting from slower growth in SNAP shoppers than expected. Some markets have seen in increased growth, largely resulting from increased outreach and the recent end of California's SSI-cash out policy, which has allowed for SSI recipients to receive SNAP benefits. Many of these SSI participants are now spending their SNAP benefits at Certified Farmers Markets and are eligible for and receiving nutrition incentives through the program. As stated in the previous progress report, the FMTracks tool has not been as effective as hoped for and many markets have decided not to adopt its use. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As mentioned above, the annual face-to-face meeting provides opportunities for training and professional development. Market managers and other implementers meet in person for two days and are able to attend break out sessions on different topics in addition to hearing best practices and state updates as a whole group. The Ecology Center also hosted 4 webinars during this reporting period to share program updates, best practices, and ensure grant compliance. Additionally, CDFA was a presenter on Westat's FINI webinar, which provides an opportunity for other FINI grantees to learn about the program, and CDFA also presented at the annual FINI project directors meeting. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results, updates on the program, and preliminary evaluation results have been shared with market managers and stakeholders at the Market Match face-to-face meeting in March, as well as through webinar presentations and email communications. CDFA has also presented on Westat's FINI community webinar to describe our program structure and presented at the annual FINI Project Directors Meeting in Washington, D.C. to share the program structure, state involvement, and discuss matching funds. CDFA also shares program updates with state partners through the State Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC), which is comprised of representatives from California agencies and departments involved in nutrition work (including the Department of Social Services, Department of Public Health, Department of Aging, Department of Health Care Services, etc.). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next, and last, reporting period, incentives will continue to be distributed among partners. The evaluation results and analysis will be finalized and disseminated to stakeholders, including partners and the California Legislature.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: 1.1 During this reporting period, $1.8 million in incentives were distributed resulting in $2.66 million estimated of SNAP (CalFresh) spending at certified farmers markets - resulting in a total of $4.46 million spent by SNAP shoppers on fruits and vegetables. Approximately 200,000 CalFresh/SNAP transactions at 279 farmers markets and mobile market sites. 1.2 $7.85 million in estimated rural economic development, estimated by the SNAP multiplier, occurred as a result of the SNAP and nutrition incentive redemption at farmers' markets. 1.3 New markets were added in the during this period, bringing the total number of sites to 279. 1.4 Data is collected from implementing contractors every month to use internally and to share with both USDA's and CDFA's external evaluators. 1.5 The majority of the policies were created during reporting period 1, but they continued to be refined during this period. Goal 2: 2.1 FM Tracks was primarily piloted in reporting period 1, where several concerns were noted. Despite additional staff efforts to improve the system and make it more effective for markets, most markets continue to report dissatisfaction with the system and prefer to use previous benefit redemption systems. 2.2 In the last reporting period, improvements were made to bar-coded scrip tracking systems that improved its speed and efficiency - decreasing preparation time by about 20%. 2.3 After testing FM Tracks in pilot markets, most markets concluded that it was less effective than previous redemption systems and have chosen to not to invest more time into FM Tracks. Goal 3: 3.1 During this reporting period, marketing and outreach was conducted in high-need counties through partnerships with county social services departments and other government and community partners. Through the State Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC), CDFA worked with state partners to develop outreach materials to be distributed through local government offices (including signage at WIC and SNAP/CalFresh offices, posters and flyers, and mailers). The Ecology Center also worked with additional local social services offices to distribute mailers to SNAP participants in those counties. During this reporting period, over 21,000 new SNAP shoppers participated in the program. 3.2 Wellington Square Farmers' Markets held monthly nutrition incentive festivals at the farmers' markets, including incentive distribution, music, nutrition education activities (taste tests and cooking demonstrations, as well as activities for children). 3.3 During this reporting period, direct mailers sent through partnerships with county social service offices remained one of the most effective outreach activities, in addition to word of mouth and at market signage. The SNAC outreach efforts are also undergoing a separate evaluation which will be available in the next reporting period. Goal 4 4.1 Both CDFA and subgrantee the Ecology Center provided technical assistance to market managers and other implementation contractors to support the program. Types of technical assistance provided included help with operation, administration, promotion, compliance, outreach, and quality assurance. 4.2 The two-day annual face-to-face meeting was on March 4 and 5, 2019 and provided market managers and stakeholders from throughout the state with an opportunity to learn from each other, hear best practices, and learn about state updates affecting the program. Additionally, the Ecology Center hosted 4 webinars during the grant period, on 7/24, 8/21, 10/30, and 4/30. The webinars were used to share program updates, best practices, and ensure grant compliance. One webinar focused on invoicing and reporting procedures. Attendanceat these webinars is required of all Market Match partners. The Ecology Center also sends out notes and a recording afterwards, so that partners who are unable to attend in person have a way to view the information. To help build the healthy food incentives body of knowledge outside of those directly involved in operating CNIP, CDFA presented at the annual FINI project directors meeting in May 2019 and on the Westat FINI webinar series. 4.3 In addition to the best practices and other lessons learned detailed above, CDFA's external evaluator (The Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California) is creating several reports sharing the knowledge they have gathered during their evaluation. These look at fruit and vegetable consumption among SNAP shoppers using CNIP incentives at farmers' markets compared to SNAP customers shopping at nearby stores, food insecurity levels, and price differentials between farmers markets and nearby stores.
Publications
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Progress 07/01/17 to 06/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) is twofold: California SNAP shoppers and California fruit and vegetable growers. CNIP supports both groups by providing incentives for SNAP shoppers to purchase California grown fruits and vegetables at Certified Farmers' Markets throughout the state of California. In this reporting period, CNIP provided incentives at 224 Certified Farmers Markets and 39 mobile market stops, directly supporting the California farmers selling their fruits and vegetables at these markets. CNIP also reached 187,446 total SNAP shoppers (as measured by number of transactions), including 25,730 new SNAP shoppers (customers using incentives for the first time) during this period. California has the highest number of SNAP participants in the country: in FY 2016 FNS reported a monthly average of 4,340,042 Californians participating in SNAP and a monthly average of 2,093,562 households. In that same year, California issued $7,237,700,086 in SNAP benefits, with a monthly average of $138.97 per a person or $288.09 per household. Outreach to SNAP shoppers, detailed in later sections of this report, included everything from signage, mailers, text messages, flyers, and other strategies to increase awareness of the program and encourage SNAP shoppers to use their benefits at participating Certified Farmers' Markets where they could also purchase additional fruits and vegetables with their nutrition incentives. California also produces the most fruits and vegetables of any state in the country, accounting for 56% of the nation's fruit and vegetable production in 2016 (CDFA 2016-17 Agricultural Statistics Review). California also has the largest number of farmers markets - over 700 Certified Farmers' Markets. In California, farmers markets are regulated at the state level, ensuring that Certified Farmers' Markets only sell agricultural products produced by California farms and sold directly by those farms at the market. Fruit and vegetable farmers participate in this program by selling their produce at participating Certified Farmers' Markets. Changes/Problems:Please see the previous section for challenges with FM Tracks. Additionally, several sites closed during this reporting period - some of the markets permanently closed, others changed ownership or structure and were no longer participating in the program. New sites will be added in Period 2, but the overall site growth rate of the program is slower than anticipated. A number of participating farmers' markets different than predicted demand for incentives. Some of the participating markets (generally more urban markets) experienced much higher customer incentive demand than they had anticipated, resulting in a budget gap for those sites. In order to stay within budget and not risk expending funds too quickly, a few markets lowered their match maximum in the first grant period. Other markets had lower than anticipated incentive demand. This challenge has partially re-directed the program outreach and promotions projects, focusing direct mailers and other outreach strategies on counties where the program has had less participation. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Ecology Center hosted six webinars for Implementing Contractors: one that reviewed and updated invoicing and reporting procedures (8/17) four bi-monthly Community-of-practice-wide webinars in order to provide program updates, exchange best practices, and ensure grant compliance (8/17, 10/17, 4/18, and 6/18) one new-partner training webinar covering basic grant procedures, policies, grant compliance, as well as training new partners on establishing, implementing and promoting their Market Match programs (6/18.) In February 2018, the Ecology Center hosted a two-day California Market Match Consortium Face-to-Face meeting. This meeting brought together all Implementing Contractors from across the state, to share best practices, providing ongoing training, ensure grant compliance, and celebrate the program's statewide impact. 87 individuals attended. The Ecology Center shared invoicing templates and tools with Florida Organic Growers, another FINI grantee, and provided them with advice on best practices. CDFA presented at numerous conferences and events, as listed in the next section. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have also presented on the program at many statewide conferences during this reporting period. These presentations are often geared at raising awareness of the incentive program to other organizations that work with SNAP shoppers, in order to increase outreach and make sure that people are aware These presentations include: UC CalFresh Webinar (September 2017). This webinar was one of the regularly scheduled UC CalFresh webinars that provide updates and information to the network of UC CalFresh SNAP-Ed providers throughout the state. CDFA presented on the California Nutrition Incentive Program, explaining the program and its benefits to SNAP shoppers, how to direct SNAP shoppers to participating markets, and opportunities for promotion of the program to SNAP shoppers participating in SNAP-Ed programs. SNAP-Ed Conference Presentation (January 2018). This yearly conference brings together SNAP-Ed practitioners from across California, including County Departments of Public Health. CDFA presented on the California Nutrition Incentive program and how it benefits SNAP shoppers and opportunities for collaboration with SNAP-Ed programs interested in providing nutrition education at the markets or promoting the markets to their SNAP clients. SNAC (State Nutrition Action Committee) Presentation (January 2018). CDFA presented on the California Nutrition Incentive Program to the SNAC Committee as a possible project for the committee to undertake. The SNAC Committee ultimately decided to endorse the program and promote it as the inaugural project under the SNAC Committee, enabling CDFA to further partner with other state agencies and departments EcoFarm (January 2018) This conference brings together farmers and other stakeholders every year. CDFA tabled at the conference, presenting information on the nutrition incentive program and farmers markets. Annual Face-to-Face Market Match Meeting (February 2018). As discussed previously, this meeting brought together all Implementing Contractors from across the state, to share best practices, providing ongoing training, ensure grant compliance, and celebrate the program's statewide impact. 87 individuals attended. Ag Day (March 2018). Every year CDFA organizes "Ag Day" on the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento. Ag Day highlights the importance of California Agriculture and invites the State Legislature, their staff, and the general public to learn about California agriculture and its impact on the state. This year, CDFA and the Ecology Center handed out information on the California Nutrition Incentive and talked to attendees about the benefits of the program for SNAP shoppers and California farmers selling fruits and vegetables at Certified Farmers' Markets. Additionally, our partners at the Ecology Center presented on Market Match to Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and at Berkeley Local and Regional Health Task Force. Ecology Center also tabled at the California Food Policy Advocates' CalFresh Forum. CDFA met with numerous stakeholders, including state legislators and other state agencies, to provide updates on the program and its impacts on California farmers and SNAP shoppers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will continue to offer nutrition incentives with our current partners, as well as add additional markets and implementing contractors through our work with the Ecology Center. These markets will be located in high need areas and include Certified Farmers' Markets in the following counties: Sacramento, Los Angeles, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, San Bernardino, Colusa, El Dorado, Riverside, Sonoma and additional mobile market sites in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, and San Mateo. As new markets are brought on board, the Ecology Center provides trainings for the markets, including on outreach strategies, incentive processing, and data tracking and collection. The Ecology Center will continue to test FMTracks, bringing on a second group of markets to test the platform.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IMPACT: This project addresses the food insecurity faced by many Californians by empowering them to purchase more healthy, nutritious, California grown fruits and vegetables for their families, while simultaneously supporting our California farmers who sell directly to consumers at Certified Farmers' Markets. Over 4 million Californians relied on SNAP in 2016. This project supports the health and well-being of these SNAP shoppers by empowering them to purchase additional nutritiousfruits and vegetables at participating markets. By using their SNAP benefits at the markets, shoppers earn a dollar-for-dollar match that can be used to buy additional fresh fruits and vegetables at the market. This increases their purchasing power and enables SNAP shoppers to purchase healthy foods for their families. This project also supports California farmers selling their produce at the 263 participating Certified Farmers' Markets and mobile market sites throughout the state. Certified Farmers' Markets provide an opportunity for farmers to sell directly to consumers. In this reporting period,the project provided $1,279,236 of incentives to 187,446 (non-unique) SNAP shoppers, resulting in an estimated total of $3,569,068 of fruit and vegetable purchases and resulting local economic activity. These dollars spent on fruits and vegetables represent better health and well-being for SNAP shoppers and economic security for California farmers. GOAL 1:Outcome 1.1: During period one of this grant (7/1/2017-6/30/2018), we distributed $1,279,236 of fruit and vegetable incentives, resulting in an additional estimated $2,289,832 in CalFresh (SNAP) spending for a total of $3,569,068 spent on fruits and vegetables. We saw 187,446 SNAP transactions at 263 farmers' market and mobile market sites, including 25,730 new SNAP customers using incentives for the first time. Outcome 1.2:By distributing $1,279,236 of incentives and driving an estimated $3,569,068 in spending, we estimate (using the SNAP economic multiplier of 1.79), that $6,388,633 in rural economic activity occurred. We are currently collecting data and evaluating the effect on farmers through our evaluation. Outcome 1.3:At the start of this grant, incentives were offered at 263 farmers' market and mobile market sites. These sites span a large portion of the state and include both rural and urban areas, coastal and inland, northern and southern parts of the state. Additional sites were identified and will be brought on during the next period. Outcome 1.4:The Ecology Center collects data from each of its implementing contractors. Our external evaluatorthe Nutrition Policy Instituteconducted in-person surveys at targeted markets as part of our external evaluation. Outcome 1.5CDFA outlined state policies and procedures, including developing invoicing processes that best fit grantees' needs. Additionally,the California State Legislature refined several of the rules for the program and allocated additional state general funds. GOAL 2:Outcome 2.1:9 partners began using FM Tracks, at 19 markets, in May 2018. This group is considered the "beta testers", who are helping to test out training and onboarding materials, identify opportunities and challenges, and determine best practices for onboarding additional partners.The rollout of FM Tracks has gone slower than anticipated, due to the terms sheet and license agreement negotiations with Case Western Reserve University taking longer than expected. There are additional challenges in alligning the two data portals,causing further delays. Outcome 2.2: In fall2017 PCFMA made enhancements to its scrip tracking system that significantly improved its speed and efficiency. With these enhancements, the time that it takes PCFMA staff to process scrip and prepare scriphas dropped by approximately 20%. Outcome 2.3: The intention of FMTracks adoption was to test a powerful tracking tool. However, since the two platforms have not yet been able to speak to each other and share data, Implementation Contractors using FMTracks, are still using a "double-entry" method--entering data into both FMTracks and the Market Match data portal. The Ecology Center has some questions and concerns regarding its application in California. GOAL 3:Outcome 3.1:Our partners engage in a number of promotional activities to encourage SNAP shoppers to attend their markets. The Ecology Center does statewide promotion and each implementing contractor and market also does outreach and promotion. These activities range from signage near markets, to outreach and mailers sent through local partners including government (social services, WIC, and public health) and community partners.We are currently in the process of exploring text messaging campaigns with county Social Service Departments, but many do not yet have the capability engage in such campaigns. Additionally, we worked with otherstate departments as part of the newly formed California State Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC), to take on Farmers' Market and nutrition incentives promotion. We utilized the outreach channels of these partners to promote the Certified Farmers' Markets in 4 high need counties in California's Central Valley (Fresno, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Tulare). Outcome 3.2:Wellington Square has operated 12 Nutrition Incentive Festivals during this reporting period (one a month). To encourage SNAP shoppers to attend with their families and purchase fruits and vegetables from the market. To create a family-friendly atmosphere, the Nutrition Incentive Festivals feature activities for kids - including nutrition education/cooking demonstrations. First time SNAP shoppers received a bonus $20 incentive to spend on fruits and vegetables. Repeat SNAP shoppers received bonus $10 of incentives. To reach new SNAP shoppers, the market has sent out mailers, distributed postcards through community partners, and increased signage for the festivals. Outcome 3.3: The Ecology Center begun preliminary data collection and evaluation on FM Tracks and monitors visits to FMFinder.org to help determine the effect of promotional campaigns and mailers. The Nutrition Policy Institute developed and conducted surveys of customers. We also regularly collect data from the participating markets to monitor incentive spending and SNAP spending. GOAL 4:Outcome 4.1:The Ecology Center and CDFA provided technical assistance to Implementation Contractors and grantees. Technical assistance was provided through webinars, materials, site visits, meetings (including the Face-to-Face meeting with all participants) and individual contacts with markets. Technical assistance ranged from a variety of topics, including invoicing and billing, tracking, promotion, farmer training, nutrition education activities, and marketing and outreach to potential shoppers. Outcome 4.2:In February 2018, the Ecology Center hosted a two-dayFace-to-Face meeting. This meeting brought together all Implementing Contractors from across the state, CDFA, and the Ecology Center staff to share best practices, providing ongoing training, ensure grant compliance, and celebrate the program's statewide impact. 87 individuals attended. The Ecology Center also hosted 6 webinars (see more detail, below). Outcome 4.3:Through collaboration and meetings like the Face-to-Face meeting, we have shared best practices among all the participating markets as well as other partners implementing FINI grants and similar incentive programs.
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