Progress 06/01/18 to 05/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during this reporting period were focused on stakeholder engagement and preparation, and the SNAP consumer. Stakeholders included community coalitions, grocery retailers, and farmers markets in each of the communities. Many of the activities and efforts carried out were focused on education, outreach, and engagement with the SNAP customer. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe This project served and partnered with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Ft. Yates, ND and McLaughlin, SD. During the reporting period we worked with community leaders in both communities, as well as the grocery retail partner, to assess readiness for project intervention and plan program integration with the already occurring SNAP-Ed programming. The SDSU Extension community lead has also worked with community stakeholders (n=10) through the wellness council to build awareness and support for the grant program. Unfortunately, the McLaughlin, SD grocer did not engage with our needs assessment efforts. Therefore, prior to implementation in the stores the Double Up team decided, with input from community coalitions, to move the implementation site from McLaughlin, SD to Dupree, SD to serve the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe on the Cheyenne River Reservation. The SDSU Extension community lead worked with the Dupree, SD community wellness coalition (n=15) and the store manager and staff to implement Double Up in the store. The Dupree Lakota Thrifty Mart served 20 customers per month who utilize SNAP with the double up incentive and nutrition education. In Ft. Yates, ND the NDSU Extension community lead worked with the grocery retail partner to assessed readiness for project intervention. The NDSU Extension community lead worked with community stakeholders (n=15) to build awareness and support the grant program. The NDSU Extension community lead invited one of the tribe's council leaders to host a focus group (40 community members) to better understand the food needs and preferences of the community. The grocer, White Buffalo Foods, serves 20-30 SNAP customers per month with Double Up incentives. Yankton Sioux Tribe This project served and partnered with the Yankton Sioux Tribe, and implemented the Double Up program in grocery retail and a farmers market in Lake Andes, SD. The SDSU Extension community lead worked with stakeholders (n=21) engaged in the already established wellness council to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. The stakeholders identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and the grocery retailer in fall of 2019. The SDSU Extension community lead also worked with grocery retail on how to integrate already occurring SNAP-Ed programming to be mutually supportive. The Lake Andes Farmers Market saw 18 new customers utilizing SNAP and served 5-10 of those customers each week at the market during the summer of 2019. Volunteers (n=4) and one volunteer organization helped run the market, provided the fiscal sponsorship for the EBT machine, and provided nutrition education. In 2020, 285 customers attended the market; of those, 10 were new SNAP customers. Cahoy's General Store in Lake Andes, SD implemented Double Up Dakota Bucks in November 2019. They served 20-30 customers utilizing SNAP with Double Up incentives, and SDSU Extension did complimentary nutrition education programming in the store reaching 50-70 customers monthly until COVID-19. Customers redeeming incentives was 524 from November 2019 - May 2020 and August 2020 - April 2021. SDSU Extension also carried out a focus group to better understand the community's needs and preferences related to food. Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa This project served and partnered with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and implemented programs in the Rolla, ND farmers market and in Belcourt, ND at a retail grocery store. The NDSU Extension community lead, with support from a ND Rural Leadership graduate, have worked with stakeholders (n=10) to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. Stakeholders have identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and provided guidance for grocery retail in fall of 2019. Lena's Fresh Farm Market in Rolla, ND served 15 new customers who utilized SNAP each week at the market during the summer of 2019. NDSU Extension and SDSU Extension utilized volunteers (n=4) to help manage the EBT programming and fiscal sponsorship of the market. One Stop Market, in Belcourt, ND served between 250-315 customers per month who utilized SNAP with Double UP redeemed incentives. Changes/Problems:Major changes include: Focus Groups: The project narrative included focus groups, or talking circles, prior to farmers market intervention. We have had to change this timeline due to delay in Institutional Review Board procedures and timeliness of paperwork from all invested partners. The talking circles will be executed prior to grocery store implementation, giving us enough time to adjust our outreach methods if necessary. We had to adjust our plan to complete 4 focus groups in each of the communities with grocery store implementation. Working with each of the tribes' IRB, and across two state's IRB process, we were able to conduct one focus group in Lake Andes and the other in Ft. Yates. As noted above we also made the decision to move the grocery store implementation from McLaughlin, SD to Dupree, SD. Locations: Due to the pandemic and limited access to the reservation, we weren't able to get any movement in Lakota Thrifty Mart in Dupree, SD. Because of this, we added two grocery stores located in Wagner and Oacoma, SD. The owner of grocery stores was very motivated and did all the work with his Point-of-Sale system to be able to offer this incentive program in his stores. Receipts were distributed through their digital app. He only wanted to start with two stores, to see how it would go, it went very well and he agreed to add his four other stores in Pine Ridge, Mission, Gregory, and Sisseton, SD. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This grant allowed the project director to gain more project specific information at the annual convening of the Fair Food Network's partners. At this meeting the project director attended sessions on Farmers Markets - Best Practices for SNAP and Double Up Implementation and Communication and Outreach. The meeting also allowed the project director to learn tactics related to successful program implementation in grocery stores. The project coordinator and consultant provided technical assistance to farmers markets, grocery stores, communities, creating training materials and delivering presentations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach will continue through traditional and social media channels. Programmatic progress in each community was relayed through the community wellness coalitions or Extension community-level staff. These coalition members meet monthly or quarterly to collectively accomplish health and wellness goals in their community. The South Dakota community coalitions have wellness champions that disseminate the information from the project director and SDSU Extension community staff. These champions also work to promote the Double Up program and have served as trusted consultants in reaching very rural underserved areas. The North Dakota communities utilize the county level NDSU Extension staff to disseminate information and lead programmatic outreach. For example in Ft. Yates, NDSU Extension community staff led the recruitment for the focus group. In the focus group a meal was offered and discussion flowed easily, with the one of the council members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as the facilitator. Programmatic outreach, including health promotion and nutrition education, were facilitated through a multi-channel strategy. That strategy included social media, print advertisements, in-store training and promotion, and earned media in newspapers and radio. It also included engagement and coordination with a state-level advisory group. That group included state agency program leads like WIC, SNAP and SNAP-Ed, as well as agriculture organizations and community organizing non-profits. State/federal programs provided support for Double Up in a variety of ways, like community support at offices and with clients. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. To increase the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. (100% Accomplished) This project assisted two farmers markets in becoming authorized SNAP/EBT retailers to increase agricultural markets in each location. The two markets are located in Lake Andes, SD and Rolla, ND. Identifying and working through the unique challenges that rural communities face when applying for authorization to accept SNAP at farmers markets will help inform other interested farmers markets across the two states. SDSU Extension received inquiries about how to accept SNAP at other farmers markets in the state and has provided technical assistance to those markets (Black Hills Farmers Market and REDCO). The Black Hills Farmers Market became and continues to be an authorized SNAP/EBT retailer, as a result of the technical assistance provided. NDSU and SDSU Extension provided a joint webinar on how to accept SNAP EBT at farmers markets. This webinar was attended by 35 farmers market managers/direct marketing farmers. Objective 2. To pilot integration of the Double Up Dakota Bucks Program: (100% Accomplished) North Dakota: At Rolla Farmers Market, Rolla, ND, there was $737.36 worth of SNAP eligible items purchased in 2019 with $218 of Double Up Dakota Bucks distributed. Of the $218 distributed, $148 was redeemed. White Buffalo Foods, Fort Yates, ND implemented Double Up from January 2020 through May of 2020. In January they saw 34 transactions to equal $219.32 in redemptions, almost quadrupling it to 128 transactions equaling $829.11 in May 2020. One Stop Market in Belcourt, ND has a large amount of SNAP sales and had great success with implementation from February 2020 through May of 2020. In February, there were 256 transactions equaling $1,735.81 of redemptions and in May there were 589 transactions equaling $6,422.42. South Dakota: The Lake Andes Farmers Market continued to implement Double Up Dakota Bucks (DUDB) in 2020 and saw 285 customers at the market. Of those, 10 were new SNAP customers increasing the market's EBT purchases from $280 in 2019 to $346 in 2020. DUDB redemption was also increased from $92 (2019) to $150.50 (2020). Looking forward, the market manager is assessing how to increase participation at the farmers market by offering fun activities such as live music, painting classes, etc. Grocery retail store owners worked with SDSU Extension to identify how to accept the SNAP incentive on their own unique point of sale systems. As stores were finding their footing and starting to get into a groove, COVID-19 hit, and progress halted and efforts were adjusted to meet the needs of consumers due to restrictions cause by the pandemic. In 2020, two of the four grocery stores continued implementing this program. Lakota Thrifty Mart implemented the first in the country "loyalty program" with the IS45 point of sale equipment. This system was not being utilized by customers as planned due to having to have a phone number for the "loyalty program." Many customers either didn't feel comfortable sharing that information or didn't actually have a phone number. This made implementation difficult at this store and we decided to try the traditional coupon method instead. Through the pandemic, the store manager was very difficult to get ahold of and travel to the reservation was prohibited, making it extremely hard to implement. This store has not submitted any reimbursements for the incentive. The other grocery store, Cahoy's in Lake Andes, SD, continued implementing the program as planned. From beginning of implementation in November 2019 - May 2022 the store had an average of $451.91/month in redemptions with an average of almost 46 transactions. The store saw a major increase in their redemptions in August 2020 jumping from $190.23 (May 2020) to $486.65 (August 2020). The store manager started printing the coupons on thicker paper so that people were less likely to lose and forget about them. We added two additional stores in March 2021, partnering with Buche Foods to offer this program in Wagner, SD (among the Yankton Sioux Reservation) and in Oacoma, SD near the two tribal communities of Lower Brule and Ft. Thompson. Buche Foods is using a digital coupon system and had a very successful first month in March in their Wagner store. In the Wagner Buche Foods store, they see an average of about $100,000 of SNAP each month and about $35,000 in produce sales. This store averaged ~$485/month with ~64 redemption transactions per month, on average. While the Wagner store did the best overall, the Oacoma store sees only an average of $45,540/month of SNAP sales. This store does have a higher produce sale average at $37,363.35. This store didn't see high redemption rates and only averaged ~$97/month with ~13 redemption transactions. In the fall of 2021, we partnered with Buche Foods to offer nutrition education and produce samplings on the tenth of each month (when SNAP benefits are released in SD). Educators provided samples of different recipes using the highlighted produce item each month and provided information on Double Up. We expanded our efforts to four additional Buche Foods stores, in March of 2022. All located in or near tribal communities (Pine Ridge, Mission, Gregory, and Sisseton). In the three months (March 2022 - May 2022) we saw a gradual increase of redemption rates. The four stores averaged $149.99 the first month, $256.40 the second month, and $294.34 the third month, with a total $2,802.90 in redemptions. Objective 3. To increase the number of low income, SNAP eligible households that purchase fresh fruits and vegetables: (100% Accomplished) Each of the farmers markets noted increases in new customers. The four grocery stores observed SNAP customers using incentives to purchase more fruits and vegetables. At Cahoy's, their total produce sales more than doubled since the start of implementation of Double Up Dakota Bucks. In December of 2019, produce sales were $6,350 and in December of 2021 produce sales were $13,106, which is more than a 200% increase! While implementation wasn't as long, the Buches store in Wagner, SD also saw an increase in produce sales over time. In April of 2021 the produce sales were $29,234.16 and in April of 2022 they were $40,996.35, an increase of 140%. During the two focus groups conducted, we noted themes that provided insights that helped us design the grocery implementation and adapt nutrition education and promotion activities. For example, a theme noted was food safety related to fresh produce. To address this concern, we tailored nutrition education and promotion materials to address this concern. Due to the pandemic, implementation of the education outreach in the store was delayed.
Publications
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Progress 06/01/20 to 05/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during this reporting period were focused on stakeholder engagement and preparation, and the SNAP consumer. Stakeholders included community coalitions, grocery retailers, and farmers markets in each of the communities. Many of the activities and efforts carried out were focused on education, outreach, and engagement with the SNAP customer. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe This project serves and partners with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Ft. Yates, ND and McLauglin, SD. During the reporting period we worked with community leaders in both of these communities, as well as the grocery retail partner to assess readiness for project intervention and plan program integration with the already occurring SNAP-Ed programming. The SDSU Extension community lead has also worked with community stakeholders (n=10) through the wellness council to build awareness and support for the grant program. Unfortunately, the McLaughlin, SD grocer did not engage with our needs assessment efforts. Therefore, prior to implementation in the stores the Double Up team decided, with input from communities' coalitions, to move the implementation site from McLaughlin, SD to Dupree, SD to serve the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe on the Cheyenne River Reservation. The SDSU Extension community lead worked with the Dupree, SD community wellness coalition (n=15) and the store manager and staff to implement Double Up in the store. The Dupree Lakota Thrifty Mart is serving 20 customers per month who utilize SNAP with the double up incentive and nutrition education. In Ft. Yates, ND the NDSU Extension community lead is working with the grocery retail partner to assessed readiness for project intervention. The NDSU Extension community lead continues to work with community stakeholders (n=15) to build awareness and support the grant program. The NDSU Extension community lead invited one of the tribe's council leaders to host a focus group (40 community members) to better understand the food needs and preferences of the community. The grocer, White Buffalo Foods, serves 20-30 SNAP customers per month with Double Up incentives. Yankton Sioux Tribe This project serves and partners with the Yankton Sioux Tribe, and has implemented the Double Up program in grocery retail and a farmers market in Lake Andes, SD. The SDSU Extension community lead has worked with stakeholders (n=21) engaged in the already established wellness council to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. The stakeholders have identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and will provide guidance for grocery retail in fall of 2019. The SDSU Extension community lead is also working with grocery retail on how to integrate already occurring SNAP-Ed programming to be mutually supportive. The Lake Andes Farmers Market saw 18 new customers utilizing SNAP and served 5-10 of those customers each week at the market during the summer of 2019. Volunteers (n=4) and one volunteer organization helped run the market, provided the fiscal sponsorship for the EBT machine, and provided nutrition education. In 2020, 285 customers attended the market; of those, 10 were new SNAP customers. Cahoy's General Store in Lake Andes, SD implemented Double Up Dakota Bucks in November 2019. They served 20-30 customers utilizing SNAP with Double Up incentives, and SDSU Extension has done complimentary nutrition education programming in the store reaching 50-70 customers monthly until COVID-19. Customers redeeming incentives was 524 from November 2019 - May 2020 & August 2020 - April 2021. SDSU Extension also carried out a focus group to better understand the community's needs and preferences related to food. Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa This project serves and partners with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and will be implemented in the Rolla, ND farmers market and in Belcourt, ND at a grocery retail store. The NDSU Extension community lead, with support from a ND Rural Leadership graduate, have worked with stakeholders (n=10) to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. Stakeholders have identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and will provide guidance for grocery retail in fall of 2019. Lena's Fresh Farm Market in Rolla, ND served 15 new customers who utilized SNAP each week at the market during the summer of 2019. NDSU Extension and SDSU Extension utilized volunteers (n=4) to help manage the EBT programming and fiscal sponsorship of the market. One Stop Market, in Belcourt, ND served between 250-315 customers per month who utilized SNAP with Double UP redeemed incentives. Changes/Problems:Major changes include: The project narrative included focus groups, or talking circles, prior to farmers market intervention. We have had to change this timeline due to delay in Institutional Review Board procedures and timeliness of paperwork from all invested partners. The talking circles will be executed prior to grocery store implementation, giving us enough time to adjust our outreach methods if necessary. We had to adjust our plan to complete 4 focus groups in each of the communities with grocery store implementation. Working with each of the tribes' IRB, and across two state's IRB process, we were able to conduct one focus group in Lake Andes and the other in Ft. Yates. As noted above we also made the decision to move the grocery store implementation from McLaughlin, SD to Dupree, SD. Our major issue has been the pandemic. We haven't been able to get any movement in Lakota Thrifty Mart in Dupree, SD. A lot of this is due to COVID-19 and limited access to the reservation area. Due to this, we've added two grocery stores in Wagner and Oacoma, SD. The grocery store was very motivated and did all of the back work and leg work to be able to offer this incentive program in his stores. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This grant allowed the project director to gain more project specific information at the annual convening of the Fair Food Network's partners. At this meeting the project director attended sessions on Farmers Markets - Best Practices for SNAP and Double Up Implementation and Communication and Outreach. The meeting also allowed the project director to learn tactics related to successful program implementation in grocery stores. The project coordinator and consultant provided technical assistance to farmers markets, grocery stores, communities, creating training materials and delivering presentations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach will continue through traditional and social media channels. Programmatic progress in each community was relayed through the community wellness coalitions or Extension community-level staff. These coalition members meet monthly or quarterly to collectively accomplish health and wellness goals in their community. The South Dakota community coalitions have wellness champions that disseminate the information from the project director and SDSU Extension community staff. These champions also work to promote the Double Up program and have served as trusted consultants in reaching very rural underserved areas. The North Dakota communities utilize the county level NDSU Extension staff to disseminate information and lead programmatic outreach. For example in Ft. Yates, NDSU Extension community staff led the recruitment for the focus group. In the focus group a meal was offered and discussion flowed easily, with the one of the council members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as the facilitator. Programmatic outreach, including health promotion and nutrition education, were facilitated through a multi-channel strategy. That strategy included social media, print advertisements, in-store training and promotion, and earned media in newspapers and radio. It also included engagement and coordination with a state-level advisory group. That group included state agency program leads like WIC, SNAP and SNAP-Ed, as well as agriculture organizations and community organizing non-profits. State/federal programs provided support for Double Up in a variety of ways, like community support at offices and with clients. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1. To increase the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. Nothing to report - completed this objective. Objective 2. To pilot integration of the Double Up Dakota Bucks Program. Double Up Dakota Bucks will be implemented in 1 farmers market and in 4 grocery stores (Cahoy's, Lake Andes, SD; Lakota Thrifty Mart, Durpree, SD; Buche Foods, Wagner and Oacoma, SD) by the next reporting period. Objective 3. To increase the number of low income, SNAP eligible households that purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The dollar-for-dollar incentive dollars will significantly increase the purchasing power of low-income families. We hope to continue to increase the redemptions each month by promoting and providing educational resources in these communities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. To increase the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. (100% Accomplished) This project assisted two farmers markets in becoming authorized SNAP/EBT retailers to increase agricultural markets in each location. The two markets are located in Lake Andes, SD and Rolla, ND. Identifying and working through the unique challenges that rural communities face when applying for authorization to accept SNAP at farmers markets will help inform other interested farmers markets across the two states. SDSU Extension received inquiries about how to accept SNAP at other farmers markets in the state and has provided technical assistance to those markets (Black Hills Farmers Market and REDCO). We will know at the end of the grant period if there were other farmers markets that began accepting EBT as a result of this technical assistance. NDSU and SDSU Extension provided a joint webinar on how to accept SNAP EBT at farmers markets. This webinar was attended by 35 farmers market managers/direct marketing farmers. Objective 2. To pilot integration of the Double Up Dakota Bucks Program: (90% Accomplished) The Lake Andes Farmers Market continued to implement Double Up Dakota Bucks (DUDB) in 2020 and saw 285 customers at the market. Of those, 10 were new SNAP customers increasing the market's EBT purchases from $280 in 2019 to $346 in 2020. DUDB redemption was also increased from $92 (2019) to $150.50 (2020). Looking forward, the market manager is assessing how to increase participation at the farmers market by offering fun activities such as live music, painting classes, etc. Grocery retail store owners worked with SDSU Extension to identify how to accept the SNAP incentive on their own unique point of sale systems. As stores were finding their footing and starting to get into a "groove" COVID-19 hit and halted efforts as "normal" life was disrupted. In 2020, two of the four grocery stores continued implementing this program. Lakota Thrifty Mart implemented the first in the country "loyalty program" with the IS45 point of sale equipment. This system was not being utilized by customers as planned due to having to have a phone number for the "loyalty program." Many customers either didn't feel comfortable sharing that information or didn't actually have a phone number. This made implementation difficult at this store and we decided to try the traditional coupon method instead. Through the pandemic, the store manager was very difficult to get ahold of and travel to the reservation was prohibited making it extremely hard to implement. This store has not submitted any reimbursements for the incentive. The other grocery store, Cahoy's in Lake Andes, SD, continued implementing the program as planned. From beginning of implementation in November 2019 - May 2020 the store had an average of $130.35/month in redemptions. When we were able to start back up again, the store saw a major increase in their redemptions from August 2020 - March 2021 with an average of $482.33/month. The store manager even started printing the coupons on thicker paper so that people were less likely to lose and forget about them. We added two additional stores in March 2021, partnering with Buche Foods to offer this program in Wagner, SD (among the Yankton Sioux Reservation) and in Oacoma, SD near the two tribal communities of Lower Brule and Ft. Thompson. Buche Foods is using a digital coupon system and had a very successful first month in March in their Wagner store. The Nutrition education efforts that focus on placement of fruit and vegetables in the stores were also halted due to COVID-19, we will resume education efforts again moving forward in 2021. Objective 3. To increase the number of low income, SNAP eligible households that purchase fresh fruits and vegetables: (85% Accomplished) The monitoring and evaluation plan is in place to record the successes of each of the intervention sites. Each of the farmers markets noted increases in new customers. The four grocery stores observed SNAP customers using incentives to purchase more fruits and vegetables. At Cahoy's the total Double Up Dakota Bucks incentives redeemed from November 2019 - May 2020 was 117, from August 2020 - April 2021 it was 407. That is almost a 3.5% increase at this store! During the two focus groups conducted, we noted themes that provided insights that helped us design the grocery implementation and adapt nutrition education and promotion activities. For example, a theme noted was food safety related to fresh produce. To address this concern, we tailored nutrition education and promotion materials to address this concern. Due to the pandemic, we've not been able to implement the education outreach in the store. We will be able to provide this moving forward.
Publications
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Progress 06/01/19 to 05/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during this reporting period were focused on stakeholder engagement and preparation, and the SNAP consumer. Stakeholders included community coalitions, grocery retailers, and farmers markets in each of the four communities. Many of the activities and efforts carried out were focused on education, outreach, and engagement with the SNAP customer. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe This project serves and partners with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Ft. Yates, ND and McLauglin, SD. During the reporting period we worked with community leaders in both of these communities, as well as the grocery retail partner to assess readiness for project intervention and plan program integration with the already occurring SNAP-Ed programming. The SDSU Extension community lead has also worked with community stakeholders (n=10) through the wellness council to build awareness and support for the grant program. Unfortunately, the McLaughlin, SD grocer did not engage with our needs assessment efforts. Therefore, prior to implementation in the stores the Double Up team decided, with input from communities' coalitions, to move the implementation site from McLaughlin, SD to Dupree, SD to serve the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe on the Cheyenne River Reservation. The SDSU Extension community lead worked with the Dupree, SD community wellness coalition (n=15) and the store manager and staff to implement Double Up in the store. The Dupree Lakota Thrifty Mart is serving 20 customers per month who utilize SNAP with the double up incentive and nutrition education. In Ft. Yates, ND the NDSU Extension community lead is working with the grocery retail partner to assessed readiness for project intervention. The NDSU Extension community lead continues to work with community stakeholders (n=15) to build awareness and support the grant program. The NDSU Extension community lead invited one of the tribe's council leaders to host a focus group (40 community members) to better understand the food needs and preferences of the community. The grocer, White Buffalo Foods, serves 20-30 SNAP customers per month with Double Up incentives. Yankton Sioux Tribe This project serves and partners with the Yankton Sioux Tribe, and has implemented the Double Up program in grocery retail and a farmers market in Lake Andes, SD. The SDSU Extension community lead has worked with stakeholders (n=21) engaged in the already established wellness council to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. The stakeholders have identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and will provide guidance for grocery retail in fall of 2019. The SDSU Extension community lead is also working with grocery retail on how to integrate already occurring SNAP-Ed programming to be mutually supportive. The Lake Andes Farmers Market saw 18 new customers utilizing SNAP and served 5-10 of those customers each week at the market during the summer of 2019. Volunteers (n=4) and one volunteer organization helped run the market, provided the fiscal sponsorship for the EBT machine, and provided nutrition education. Cahoy's General Store in Lake Andes, SD implemented Double Up Dakota Bucks in November 2019. They served 20-30 customers utilizing SNAP with Double Up incentives, and SDSU Extension has done complimentary nutrition education programming in the store reaching 50-70 customers monthly. SDSU Extension also carried out a focus group to better understand the community's needs and preferences related to food. Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa This project serves and partners with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and will be implemented in the Rolla, ND farmers market and in Belcourt, ND at a grocery retail store. The NDSU Extension community lead, with support from a ND Rural Leadership graduate, have worked with stakeholders (n=10) to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. Stakeholders have identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and will provide guidance for grocery retail in fall of 2019. Lena's Fresh Farm Market in Rolla, ND served 15 new customers who utilized SNAP each week at the market during the summer of 2019. NDSU Extension and SDSU Extension utilized volunteers (n=4) to help manage the EBT programming and fiscal sponsorship of the market. One Stop Market, in Belcourt, ND served between 250-315 customers per month who utilized SNAP with Double UP redeemed incentives. Changes/Problems:Major changes include: The project narrative included focus groups, or talking circles, prior to farmers market intervention. We have had to change this timeline due to delay in Institutional Review Board procedures and timeliness of paperwork from all invested partners. The talking circles will be executed prior to grocery store implementation, giving us enough time to adjust our outreach methods if necessary. We had to adjust our plan to complete 4 focus groups in each of the communities with grocery store implementation. Working with each of the tribes' IRB, and across two state's IRB process, we were able to conduct one focus group in Lake Andes and the other in Ft. Yates. As noted above we also made the decision to move the grocery store implementation from McLaughlin, SD to Dupree, SD. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This grant allowed the project director to gain more project specific information at the annual convening of the Fair Food Network's partners. At this meeting the project director attended sessions on Farmers Markets - Best Practices for SNAP and Double Up Implementation and Communication & Outreach. The meeting also allowed the project director to learn tactics related to successful program implementation in grocery stores. The project coordinator and consultant provided technical assistance to farmers markets, grocery stores, communities, creating training materials and delivering presentations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach will continue through traditional and social media channels. Programmatic progress in each community was relayed through the community wellness coalitions or Extension community-level staff. These coalition members meet monthly or quarterly to collectively accomplish health and wellness goals in their community. The South Dakota community coalitions have wellness champions that disseminate the information from the project director and SDSU Extension community staff. These champions also work to promote the Double Up program and have served as trusted consultants in reaching very rural underserved areas. The North Dakota communities utilize the county level NDSU Extension staff to disseminate information and lead programmatic outreach. For example in Ft. Yates, NDSU Extension community staff led the recruitment for the focus group. In the focus group a meal was offered, and discussion flowed easily, with the one of the council members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as the facilitator. Programmatic outreach, including health promotion and nutrition education, were facilitated through a multi-channel strategy. That strategy included social media, print advertisements, in-store training and promotion and earned media in newspapers and radio. It also included engagement and coordination with a state-level advisory group. That group included state agency program leads like WIC, SNAP and SNAP-Ed, as well as agriculture organizations and community organizing non-profits. State/federal programs provided support for Double Up in a variety of ways, like community support at offices and with clients. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1. To increase the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. The project will implement the Double Up Dakota Bucks fruit and vegetable pilot incentive program in 2 farmers markets. Each of these markets are newly authorized FNS SNAP retailers. Objective 2. To pilot integration of the Double Up Dakota Bucks Program. Double Up Dakota Bucks will be implemented in all farmers markets and in all grocery stores by the next reporting period. Objective 3. To increase the number of low income, SNAP eligible households that purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The dollar for dollar incentive dollars, $2,000 per farmers market and $8,000 per grocery store, will significantly increase the purchasing power of low-income families. We hope to reach over 3,000 individuals with these incentives and will work to train retail partners and provide outreach to communities during the next reporting period.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. To increase the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. (100% Accomplished) This project assisted two farmers markets in becoming authorized SNAP/EBT retailers to increase agricultural markets in each location. The two markets are located in Lake Andes, SD and Rolla, ND. Identifying and working through the unique challenges that rural communities face when applying for authorization to accept SNAP at farmers markets will help inform other interested farmers markets across the two states. SDSU Extension received inquiries about how to accept SNAP at other farmers markets in the state and has provided technical assistance to those markets (Black Hills Farmers Market and REDCO). We will know at the end of the grant period if there were other farmers markets that began accepting EBT as a result of this technical assistance. NDSU and SDSU Extension provided a joint webinar on how to accept SNAP EBT at farmers markets. This webinar was attended by 35 farmers market managers/direct marketing farmers. Objective 2. To pilot integration of the Double Up Dakota Bucks Program: (85% Accomplished) Farmers market season will begin at the end of June, with the two farmers markets (identified above) authorized to accept SNAP and trained on processes to administer and accept incentives for fruit and vegetables. Coordination with existing nutrition education programs will happen at the market. Development of new tailored direct nutrition education specifically for farmers markets is almost complete. The farmers markets are targeting a new market segment and SDSU Extension will work with the community to create a marketing and outreach plan. During 2019 the Lake Andes, SD farmers market saw 18 new customers, EBT purchases totaled $280, and Double Up Dakota Bucks redemption was $92. In Rolla, North Dakota Lena's farmers market saw 15 new customers, $731.36 in EBT sales, and $171 in Double Up redemption. Market managers have noted the importance of accepting SNAP/EBT at their market to boost sales for producers and attract more customers to the market. Grocery retail store owners are working with SDSU Extension to identify how to accept the SNAP incentive on their own unique point of sale systems. Each system utilizes different technology and will need coding updates to process the incentive. SDSU Extension is facilitating these conversations, with the assistance of the technical contractor, Fair Food Network. Nutrition education efforts that focus on placement of fruit and vegetables in the stores are currently being put in place or are already in place. In 2019 four grocery stores implemented this program. One of the originally identified stores in McLaughlin, SD did not engage with our needs assessment. Therefore, we moved the location of the pilot store to Dupree, SD on the Cheyenne River Reservation. The Dupree, SD grocery, Lakota Thrifty Mart, implemented the first in the country "loyalty program" with the IS45 point of sale equipment. The other three grocery stores originally identified (Cahoys in Lake Andes, SD, One Stop in Belcourt, ND and White Buffalo Foods in Ft. Yates, ND) implemented the program as planned. Objective 3. To increase the number of low income, SNAP eligible households that purchase fresh fruits and vegetables: (85% Accomplished) The monitoring and evaluation plan is in place to record the successes of each of the intervention sites. Each of the farmers markets noted increases in new customers. The four grocery stores observed SNAP customers using incentives to purchase more fruits and vegetables. By the end of the intervention we will have reached about 1,700 customers with the Double Up incentive utilizing SNAP. During the two focus groups conducted, we noted themes that provided insights that helped us design the grocery implementation and adapt nutrition education and promotion activities. For example, a theme noted was food safety related to fresh produce. To address this concern we tailored nutrition education and promotion materials to address this concern.
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Progress 06/01/18 to 05/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during this reporting period were focused on stakeholder engagement and preparation, and the SNAP consumer. Stakeholders included community coalitions, and grocery retail and farmers market leads in each of the four communities. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe This project serves and partners with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Ft. Yates, ND and McLauglin, SD. During the reporting period we have worked with community leads in both of these communities. In McLauglin, SD the SDSU Extension community lead is working with the grocery retail partner to assess readiness for project intervention and plan program integration with the already occurring SNAP-Ed programming. SDSU Extension community lead has also worked with community stakeholders 10 through the wellness council to build awareness and support for the grant program. In Ft. Yates, ND the NDSU Extension community lead is working with the grocery retail partner to asses readiness for project intervention. NDSU Extension community lead continues to work with community stakeholders 15 to build awareness and support the grant program. Yankton Sioux Tribe This project serves and partners with the Yankton Sioux Tribe, and will be implemented in a grocery retail and a farmers market in Lake Andes, SD. The SDSU Extension community lead has worked with stakeholders 21 engaged in the already established wellness council to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. The stakeholders have identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and will provide guidance for grocery retail in fall of 2019. The SDSU Extension community lead is also working with grocery retail on how to integrate already occurring SNAP-Ed programming to be mutually supportive. Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa This project serves and partners with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and will be implemented in the Rolla, ND farmers market and in Belcourt, ND at a grocery retail store. The NDSU Extension community lead, with support from a ND Rural Leadership graduate, have worked with stakeholders 10 to build awareness and understanding for this grant program. The stakeholders have identified and provided guidance on how best to implement the grant in the community's farmers market and will provide guidance for grocery retail in fall of 2019. Changes/Problems:Major changes include: The project narrative included focus groups, or talking circles, prior to farmers market intervention. We have had to change this timeline due to delay in Institutional Review Board procedures and timeliness of paperwork from all invested partners. The talking circles will be executed prior to grocery store implementation, giving us enough time to adjust our outreach methods if need be. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This grant allowed the project director to gain more project specific information at the annual convening of the Fair Food Network's partners. At this meeting the project director attended sessions on Farmers Markets - Best Practices for SNAP and Double Up Implementation and Communication & Outreach. The meeting also allowed the project director to learn tactics related to successful program implementation in grocery stores. The project coordinator and consultant provided technical assistance to farmers markets communities, creating training materials and delivering presentations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach will begin at the beginning of June 2019 through traditional and social media channels. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1. To increase the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. The project will implement the Double Up Dakota Bucks fruit and vegetable pilot incentive program in 2 farmers markets. Each of these markets are newly authorized FNS SNAP retailers. Objective 2. To pilot integration of the Double Up Dakota Bucks Program. Double Up Dakota Bucks will be implemented in all farmers markets and in all grocery stores by the next reporting period. Objective 3. To increase the number of low income, SNAP eligible households that purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The dollar for dollar incentive dollars, $2,000 per farmers market and $8000 per grocery store, will significantly increase the purchasing power of low-income families. We hope to reach over 3,000 individuals with these incentives and will working on training of retail partners, and outreach to communities during the next reporting period.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. To increase the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP benefits. (85% Accomplished) This project has worked with the two farmers markets identified as part of the grant to become authorized SNAP/EBT retailers to increase agricultural markets in each location. The two markets are located in Lake Andes, SD and Rolla, ND. Identifying and working through the unique challenges that rural communities face when applying for authorization to accept SNAP at farmers markets will help inform other interested farmers markets in the state. SDSU Extension has received inquiries about how to accept SNAP at other farmers markets in the state and has provided technical assistance to those markets. We will know at the end of the grant period if there were other farmers markets that began accepting EBT as a result of this technical assistance. Objective 2. To pilot integration of the Double Up Dakota Bucks Program: (20% Accomplished) Farmers market season will begin at the end of June with two farmers markets authorized to accept SNAP and trained on processes to administer and accept incentives for fruit and vegetables. Coordination with existing nutrition education programs will happen at the market. Development of new tailored direct nutrition education specifically for farmers markets is almost complete. The farmers markets are targeting a new market segment and SDSU Extension will work with the community to create a marketing and outreach plan. Grocery retail store owners are working with SDSU Extension to identify how to accept the SNAP incentive on their own unique point of sale systems. Each system utilizes different technology and will need coding updates to process the incentive. SDSU Extension is facilitating these conversations, with the assistance of the technical contractor, Fair Food Network. Nutrition education efforts that focus on placement of fruit and vegetables in the stores are currently being put in place or are already in place. Objective 3. To increase the number of low income, SNAP eligible households that purchase fresh fruits and vegetables: (5% Accomplished) The monitoring and evaluation plan is in place to record the successes of each of the intervention sites.
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