Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) provides targeted support for the more than 2.9 million SNAP recipients in Florida. FAB's network is made up of 38 farmers markets, 5 mobile markets, 17 produce stands, 6 online markets, 6 CSAs and 7 community grocery stores in 38 counties. Approximately 13.2% of Florida residents are food insecure and within participating counties, 8.1%-26.4% of the population lives below the poverty line. Meanwhile, 64% of Florida residents are obese or overweight and the Florida Department of Health projects that the number will increase to 70% by 2030. During the reporting time period, the participating outlets geographically spanned from the Florida Panhandle to Homestead in the South, with a peak growing season from October through May. FAB strategically collaborates with farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs, mobile markets and small, independent retailers in and around food deserts, low-income communities, and along transportation routes that feature fresh produce and Florida farmers. Most FAB markets operate year round with some seasonal closures during the summer months. SNAP recipients are the primary beneficiaries of this project and FAB market partner sites are concentrated in cities and within rural communities with high concentrations of SNAP clients, however the project also incentivizes D-SNAP recipients impacted by natural disasters including Hurricanes Idalia (Aug. 30-31, 2023), Debby (Aug. 4-5, 2024), Helene (Sept. 26-27, 2024) and Milton (Oct. 9-10, 2024). Over the last fiscal year, efforts to engage the target audience took place through FAB's mystery shopper pilot program (funded by a NTAE Innovation grant); at educational events during farmers market events; through collaborations with Florida's SNAP Ed agency, Florida Nutrition Ed and through local, regional and state partners. Feeding Florida continues to engage SNAP clients via collaborations with Florida's SNAP agency: the Department of Children and Families, along with social media outreach, e-newsletters and website features including a SNAP client facing page and Smallchat direct chat. Changes/Problems: Staff changes: At the end of August 2024, FAB Regional & Nutrition Ed Coordinator Jordyn Vitorino left the program for a new opportunity in Virginia. FF conducted a 3 month search, hired Carley Todd, based in Ft. Lauderdale, to join the FAB team as South Florida Regional Coordinator on Dec. 9, 2024. FF is assessing the need to hire a new Regional Coordinator position in 2025 for the Florida Panhandle, as this region is historically underserved, rural, and often impacted by extreme weather events. FAB has struggled to expand to and maintain outlets in this region as it has a unique set of challenges. FAB outlets continue to report less overall SNAP clients at markets due to the end of COVID relief funds and a reduction in SNAP allotments within the state; as a result, the number of SNAP shoppers at partner outlets saw a decrease in participation and a reduction in total SNAP incentives compared to 2020-2021 pandemic years, though rising food and housing costs continue to negatively Floridians, particularly seniors, children and people with disabilities. It is likely that FF will request to file a 1 year extension in order to spend down all incentives. While FF exceeded our goal of sustainability onboarding five farm-direct outlets and contracted with 10 brick and mortar retail outlets (Hitchcock's Markets, funded through a state appropriation, see below) in July 2024, the stores did not launch until Oct. 2024 due to technical delays related to the grocery chain's POS system and impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. FF struggled to evaluate the capabilities of retailer POS systems, as there were too many variables across small, independent stores to develop a cohesive retail program within the timeline. Extreme weather challenges: Sept 2023: Hurricane Idalia (Aug 31, 2023): Hot food allowances for 23 counties through Sept. 30th, impacting 21 FAB farm-direct and retail outlets in the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Wakulla D-SNAP extended to the following counties, impacting one FAB outlet: Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties FF extends unlimited match to all impacted FAB outlets until October 3 Dec. 15-17, 2023: December tropical storm weather pattern with flash-flooding, wind, rain and rip current across the entire state. Market closures over the weekend: Lakeland Farmers Market,Spring Hill Farmers Market,Bradenton Farmers Market, All weekend UOP markets, Delray Beach Green Market, Packing District Farmers Market Jan 9, 2024: Severe winter weather system impacts the entire state with heavy rain, flooding, tornados, high winds and power outages A states of emergency declared for the following 49 counties:Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington. Hard freezes damage Florida's citrus crop May 10: Markets/farms impacted by Panhandle weather system that included 3 destructive tornadoes: Community Co-Op: no power Fri-Sun Play of Sunlight Mushrooms (Red Hills farm partner) -farm destroyed by tornado Southside Tallahassee Farmers Market Florida experienced four named hurricanes in 2023-2024r: Hurricanes Idalia (Aug. 30-31, 2023), Debby (Aug. 4-5, 2024), Helene (Sept. 26-27, 2024) and Milton (Oct. 9-10, 2024) which severely impacted Floridians' access to basic necessities including food, water and electricity, caused damage to Florida crops, farm and market infrastructures, flooding and market closures throughout the state. FF deployed emergency food and water on behalf of the state of Florida to support food security for impacted communities. FNS approved early release of SNAP benefits for Floridians; FNS and the Florida Department of Children and Families implemented Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) and hot food waiver for SNAP purchases; FF offered an unlimited SNAP incentive match. FF chose to suspend the 2023-2024 FAB membership fee in light of the severe and widespread impacts of back-to-back storms, Helene and Milton, in addition to offering an unlimited SNAP match for all 67 impacted counties.. We hope that market partners instead used the funds to support their businesses, families and communities. This was a one-time suspension, and we do plan to resume the FAB membership fee for the 2024-2025 fiscal year with a flat 5% fee for all market partners. On July 1, 2024, FF was awarded a one year $1M legislative appropriation, Produce Incentives to Support Rural Retailers, to expand FAB into a rural, independently owned grocery chain, Hitchcock's Markets. In response to outdated systems of tracking, reporting and implementing the FAB program, FF streamlined outdated systems including: transitioning credit card and staff travel reimbursements to the Divvy/Bill.com system; assessing the need for a project management and OKR software like Click-Up. Additionally, in an effort to expand the reach of the program and better support farmers, farmers markets, and community grocers operating the program, FAB launched a website redesign in April 2024. The redesign of our website, www.freshaccessbucks.com, will improve accessibility and create a user-friendly experience for customers and partners using the site. The redesign, as proposed, will allow our team to make more time-sensitive updates, reducing the need and cost for outside support and allowing FF to communicate the most relevant information. Partner outlets lost FY1 Sept 1 2023-Aug 31 2024 Little Rock Cannery - county sold building to be demolished September 2023 (check last transaction date as they were allowing order pickups there for some time after building was sold) Mid-Cape Sunshine: After being forced to move from original Surfside location the Tuesday Mid-Cape market was not able to generate customers at the new location. GNV Market - market struggling financially and could not afford to continue paying FOG to offer SNAP and FAB at the market Ludlam Trail Farmers Market - Part of UOP markets. UOP closed this market location after lack of traffic, was hoping to get traffic after new park opened but were delays from city in opening. The Farmacy - Don't have staff to help run program. Hard time keeping up with cost of program. FAB Markets continue to express that an inadequate number of paid market staff hinders their ability to provide sufficient outreach to SNAP recipients to inform them of the program, fundraise independently for their SNAP efforts and conduct nutrition education efforts. FAB farm-direct outlets continue to express a desire to offer online SNAP, though there are cost and tech barriers. Transportation to and from FAB markets continues to be a barrier to participation across the state. FF continues to seek clarification from FNS regarding the SNAP refund policy, particularly related to incentive token refunds; refund deadlines and ability to associate refund with a market transaction. FF continues to seek clarification from FNS regarding EBT card number retention policies and solutions to transaction record keeping and documentation. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?New Partner Cohort, FAB Partner Trainings, Webinars and Community Info Sessions -FF organized training sessions with 7 new partners and monthly refresher training for 56 current partner staff and vendors. These trainings included USDA regulations for authorized SNAP retailers to ensure they are in compliance with all relevant SNAP operating requirements. FAB Site Visits - FAB staff conducted in-person site visits with all FAB outlets to monitor procedures and ensure standardization and accuracy of program implementation, provided training and technical assistance to staff, volunteers and vendors, and conducted secret shopping to ensure integrity of FAB program. Mystery Shopper Project -Funded through a 2022 NTAE Innovation Grant, FF designed a new program evaluation protocol to collaborate with active SNAP participants to engage in mystery shopping at Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) markets across Florida to assess the SNAP shopper experience, as well as FAB vendor program compliance. SNAP shoppers received a stipend for their time and provided feedback on their perceptions of the market environment, evaluated vendors and provided compliance-related data with the goal of creating better outreach materials, a FAB Compliance and Shopper Experience toolkit and a FAB Vendor toolkit. FF created and disseminated our Mystery Shopper Toolkit to the NTAE and will present on impacts, shopper survey analysis and program improvements during the 2025 NI Hub Annual Convening. FAB Technical Support - FAB staff provided technical support to project partners to ensure they had the capacity to implement the project and comply with USDA regulations through email, webinars and phone calls. Monthly, FAB Network-Wide Conference Calls - FF hosted monthly network calls, attended by active partners that serves as an opportunity to share FAB updates, share what's going well/not going well and talk to other market managers. Topics of discussion included market sustainability and resiliency, resources related to natural disasters, online SNAP technologies and virtual shopping platforms. At the end of the fiscal year, FF made the decision to transition to quarterly network calls and provide partners the opportunity for direct connection and collaboration through the Florida Local Food Project's Hylo platform, based on annual survey feedback. Fundraising Community of Practice -FF hosted a FAB team and partner-led gathering space to discuss fundraising hopes, challenges and opportunities for their outlets/markets, farms, businesses, as well as the FAB annual membership fees. The Fundraising CoP is a space for learning and conversation with peers participating in the FAB network. SNAP/EBT Equipment Technical Support - FF provided training, technical assistance and materials to farmers markets statewide in the SNAP merchant application process, EBT Service provider and equipment considerations, best practices for SNAP acceptance at market and for the implementation of the incentive program FAB. SNAP Tech outreach included virtual and in-person presentations with the American Heart Association, Florida Department of Children and Families' Hope Navigator Program and the Florida Department of Health and UF/IFAS Extension's Small Farm Marketing course and in partnership with Marketlink. For SNAP tech estimates: 60+ farm-direct and retail outlets received support and 20+ were SNAP authorized as a result of that support. FM Tracks/Produce Path Data Collection - FF staff contracted and collaborated with Case Western Reserve University to transition the long-standing data collection software, FMTracks, to a new, streamlined system, Produce Path, wich assists with data collection and monitoring at market. Training included one-on-one technical support via webinars, video tutorials, step-by-step guides, hand-outs, in-person workshops and phone/email communication. The app ensures that FAB markets effectively track progress and growth over the course of the grant. Case Western University brings expertise and a track record in project evaluation to analyze variations across sites annually for their relationship to site-level indicators (e.g. transactions), site characteristics, and community demographics. FAB Toolkit - FAB staff refined, updated and shared materials with project partners including but not limited to the following FAB toolkit components: program descriptions to communicate to potential partner markets, mid and season-end report forms, data collection tools, FAB MM guide, vendor guide, flyer templates, recommended signage, vendor agreements, accounting and recording keeping templates, promotional materials, nutrition education ideas, evaluations, fundraising ideas, Florida farmers market regulations, and EBT Service Provider and Payment Option information. FF updated and refined our Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners ahead of Hurricanes Idalia (Aug. 30-31, 2023), Debby (Aug. 4-5, 2024), Helene (Sept. 26-27, 2024) and Milton (Oct. 9-10, 2024). Webinars and training for FAB partners: FF developed resources, training materials and a webinar for partner outlets participating in the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey Data Collection Training and Survey and FAB Mystery Shopper program. FAB Network Growth and Collaboration - FF provided the following opportunities for FAB markets to connect and share challenges and successes: Opportunity for direct connection and collaboration through the Florida Local Food Project's Hylo platform Market visits- We encourage our FAB partners to visit each other's markets and see how the program operates across the state. NTAE online resource library FAB contracted with Fair Food Network and National Grocers Association Foundation to provide retail resources and tech support that has increased the networking capacity of the FF network of markets. FAB Annual Training: Originally scheduled on August 7, FAB's Annual Convening took place virtually and was rescheduled to August 21, because of statewide impacts from Hurricane Debby (Aug. 5-6, 2024). Topics included Feeding Florida and FAB program updates, SNAP compliance reminders, safety and response for pandemics and other natural disaster resources, a placemaking panel discussion, mystery shopper results and breakouts and resource networking. FF also shared SNAP shopper survey results from the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey to help inform targeted needs of clients participating at active FAB outlets. FF anticipates hosting the training in person during the summer of 2025, during Florida's low produce season and alternating between in-person and virtual every other year. ?Professional Development for FF Staff: FF values professional development for all staff and endeavors to provide access to platforms of interest. PD included: the 2023 Community Nutrition PD Meeting in New Orleans, the 2024 virtual NI Hub Convening; Florida Blue Community Health Symposium & Sapphire Awards in Orlando; NTAE Community of Practice calls for Brick and Mortar Retail, NTAE Evaluators, Healthy Corner Stores, Nutrition Education, Local and Regional Sourcing in Grocery and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in NI Programs; NI Hub State Funding for Nutrition Incentives Cohort; attendance at the Tampa Bay to End Hunger: Sunshine Summit to End Hunger, Florida State Fair Tabling with Homegrown Hillsborough, Annual Children's Day at the State Capitol, GusNIP Congressional site visits with city, state and federal legislators, Fair Food Network/NI Hub GusNIP Farm Bill webinar and the Florida Heritage Food Symposium How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?FF staff shared impact with partner organizations via one on one meetings, community meetings and bi-monthly Food Access Agency calls, organized and facilitated by FAB staff and bi-monthly SE Regional NI/PPR Program calls with practitioners in the Southeastern US, also created and facilitated by FAB staff. Information regarding program activities were shared to communities through virtual information sessions, press releases and social media posts. FAB also maintained an active Community Resources webpage and a SNAP Shopper Resources webpage to digitally disseminate program materials and information to partner agencies and SNAP clients. FAB partner outlets regularly engaged with community based organizations to share the impact and availability of their programs. Virtual engagement conducted during this reporting period included: Florida Nutrition Ed Program Florida Impact to End Hunger Florida state SNAP Agency - Department of Children and Families (DCF) Florida Department of Children Families Hope Navigators Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Florida Organic Growers Local Food Project Florida Department of Elder Affairs Florida Department of Health Florida Food Policy Council UF/IFAS and Family Nutrition Program American Heart Association Bread for the World United Way Florida Feeding Florida's 9 member bank network: Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Feeding Northeast Florida, Second Harvest Central Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, All Faiths Food Bank, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Feeding South Florida Over the course of the grant period, FAB staff presented statewide sessions with UF/IFAS and FNP, The Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Children and Families, FL Food Policy Council and FL Department of Agriculture, Florida Food Policy Council, Florida Organic Growers and Consumers, Florida's Nutrition Ed program; and shared program impacts during Feeding Florida Capital Day: FL Legislative meetings with Rep. McClain, Sen. Harrell, and Governor's Budget Office re: Produce Incentives to Support Rural Retailers appropriations request Nationally, FAB presented impacts via: bi-monthly SE Regional NI/PPR Program calls with practitioners in the Southeastern US (Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky), also created and facilitated by FAB staff; during Legion Park Farmers Market GusNIP Congressional site visit -presented to offices of Miami-Dade county mayor Daniella Cava, Miami-Dade Commissioner King, Sen. Rick Scott; UOP, Barry University, Bread for the World + participating farmers and SNAP clients during Audubon Park Farmers Market GusNIP Congressional site visit -presented to offices of Sen. Rick Scott; Sen. Rubio, Rep. Mills, Rep. Frost; Second Harvest of Central Florida, Gather & Grow, Bread for the World, Audubon Park Covenant Church, FL Impact, Picnic Project, Monarch Learning Academy + participating farmers and SNAP clients during Bread for the World October 2023 Southeast Online Meeting -presentation on Congressional site visits during a Farm Bill webinar in partnership with Fair Food Network/NI Hub GusNIP; and at the 2024 HI Nub Convening. FF designed and disseminated a 2023 FAB Impact Report, Health Benefits of Nutrition Incentives one pager, Nutrition Incentives for Florida Retailers one pager from data synthesized from FMTracks, monthly retailer reporting, SNAP shopper surveying and annual evaluations from FAB outlet partners. These impact reports and one pagers were shared through our email listserv, with state and national stakeholders, Florida legislators, FF's 9 member foodbank, and to the public via FAB's website and social media channels. FF also collaborated with a graphic designer to update and provided the following standard marketing and promotional materials for farm-direct outlets to increase their outreach about FAB: FAB logo, social media graphics, tents, banners, bilingual flyers, county-wide posters and flyers, bilingual brochures, loyalty cards and regional postcards. For FAB retail partners, FF co-developed the following with our graphic designer: FAB retail one pager, multi-lingual price cards, shopping guides, posters, banners, flyers, buttons, shelf talkers and other promotional materials internal and external to retail outlets. FF created press releases that were distributed to local and state media contacts to announce participation in the FAB program. FF continues to maintain www.FreshAccessBucks.com domain name, with a refined and updated website that includes downloadable promotional materials and an interactive map with market partner information and resources. The FAB webpage averages over 8,788 views per month, including an average of 2,750 new webpage visits per month coming directly from Florida Department of Children and Families webpage. Through the SmallChat feature, FAB answered 325 real time direct messages from website visitors to provide them with resources and information on how to access food. FAB's social media accounts have grown by 227 followers over the past fiscal year. FAB's social media pages now have over 3,210 combined followers and an average monthly post reach of 2,266. Ahead of hurricane season (June 1-Nov 30 annually), FF refined and disseminated our Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners ahead of Hurricanes Idalia (Aug. 30-31, 2023), Debby (Aug. 4-5, 2024), Helene (Sept. 26-27, 2024) and Milton (Oct. 9-10, 2024). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1: Over 4 years, expand FAB to 85 direct-to-consumer outlets (farmers markets, CSAs, mobile markets, farm stores) including 65 already participating (legacy) markets and 5 to be added each year. Continue to identify new market partners that meet criteria on an ongoing basis and provide SNAP technical support to direct marketing farmers and farmers markets Expand use of our data-driven evaluation tool, the Decision Matrix, to better identify areas of need and sustainable program partners that are able to thrive in the FAB program Facilitate the FAB outlet onboarding cohort to support streamlined training and peer-to-peer support Enter into contracts with 5 new farm-direct partners to exceed the goal of 85 active market partners. Continue to engage with statewide partners and stakeholders to increase FAB's visibility, funding support and engagement from SNAP shoppers Provide training and resources to FAB partner outlets -both new and legacy to ensure better sustainability Engage with and garner important feedback from SNAP shoppers via the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and on the Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance survey funded through a 2022 NI Hub Innovation grant on FAB program operations and create FAB Compliance and Shopper Experience and FAB Vendor toolkits. Ensure FAB partners and participating vendors abide by federal regulations around SNAP and FAB programs. Partners will sign formal contracts with all participating vendors that state that they will comply with SNAP and FAB program regulations. Compliance with this agreement will be enforced and monitored by FF. Maintain and provide up-to-date SNAP Tech assistance information for the state direct marketing farmers and markets Goal 2: Over 4 years, expand FAB's grocery store nutrition incentive program, including 4 already participating (legacy) outlets and 3 to be added each year. Onboard a minimum of 3 retail partners in rural, high-need communities or within communities recently impacted by recent hurricane activity. Provide training for retail outlet managers and staff for proper program implementation. Create directed promotional material to increase awareness of the retail incentive program and distribute to retail partners. Maintain regular communication and data collection to monitor program successes and challenges. Conduct virtual site visits to active and potential retail outlets Collaborate with NTAE and NGAF to identify solutions for POS technical system advancements for SNAP incentive programs to operate more effectively Engage with Florida legislators and advocate for state funding to match our GusCRR federal funding and expand into larger brick and mortar retail outlets; the goal of this campaign is to advocate for a line item in Florida's SNAP Appropriations budget to provide matching funds for FAB incentives at additional retail outlets across the state. Goal 3: Improve FAB partner resiliency through TA and capacity building. FF will continue the tiered membership system to ensure program buy-in from the communities where partner outlets operate. FF will continue to facilitate the SE Regional NI/PPR Program call with practitioners in the Southeastern US to collaborate and share best practices. FAB partner outlets will attend annual FAB training presented by FF, participate in quarterly regional conference calls and have opportunities to collaborate through the Florida Local Food Project's Hylo platform. FAB staff will provide professional development on market sustainability, program implementation, and relevant outreach and marketing. FAB staff will offer Fundraising Community of Practice peer-led spaces and a New FAB Outlet Onboarding Cohort model for new outlets. FF will maintain strategic state and regional partnerships that support partner markets. FAB staff will conduct site visits for training and program consistency. FF will continue to provide resources to ensure program success for active FAB partners. Goal 4: Design and implement a statewide communications strategy to engage SNAP households and program operators as well as government, non-profit, and for-profit partners in order to effectively inform and energize FAB stakeholders and ensure the program assists low-income families participating in SNAP access available resources. FF will continue to design and implement seasonal outreach campaigns to actively engagement participation FF will continue to engage stakeholders statewide in an effort to maximize the access to Florida-grown fruits and vegetables for SNAP consumers. FAB staff will communicate with regional and state agencies and community champions and continue to facilitate the Florida Food Access Agency calls on a bi-monthly basis FF will continue to update Community Partner resources and present on FAB at regional, state and national convenings. Goal 5: Evaluate Fresh Access Bucks Progress and Outcomes. FF will continue to collect and monitor all key program requirements via Produce Path (formerly FMTracks) FF will conduct market landscape assessments at all active and potential FAB partner outlet sites. FF will analyze partner data to guide best practices for SNAP participation. FF will garner SNAP feedback from SNAP shoppers via the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and synthesize and disseminate 2022-2024 Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance survey data funded through a 2022 NI Hub Innovation grant on FAB program operations FF is also committed to providing support to the NTAE to streamline the SNAP Participant Level surveying process FF will participate in the NTAE monthly Firm Level reporting requirements to evaluate the project's effectiveness in increasing healthy purchases among SNAP participants FF will analyze data collected through the FAB partner annual report and share FAB's impacts with SNAP customers, FAB partners, statewide and national partners and stakeholders
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: FF onboarded 7 new farm-direct outlets, exceeding our goal of 5 new outlets. FF retained a total of 63 active FAB farm-direct outlets. FAB farm-direct partner outlets realized the following achievements:? 17,770 SNAP transactions $418,986.83 in FAB spent on local food 97% redemption rate $511,094.75 in SNAP and D-SNAP spent on local food 152,915 daily servings of Florida-grown fruits and vegetables 246,053 meals with SNAP & FAB 403 participating Florida farmers $712,276 in economic impact for Florida $1,585,014.20 in local economic impact Goal 2: During the third GusCRR fiscal year, FF was awarded a one year $1M legislative appropriation, Produce Incentives to Support Rural Retailers, to expand FAB into a 10 store rural, independently owned grocery chain, Hitchcock's Markets. Hitchcock's is a full-service grocery store located in Alachua, Martin, Pinellas, Hamilton, Putnam, Clay, Gilchrist and Levy counties; all stores accept online SNAP and offer free delivery, and the chain is a Florida Department of Agriculture Fresh from Florida partner and purchases a significant percentage of their produce directly from Florida farmers. While FF exceeded our goal of partnering with 3 or more brick and mortar retail outlets, the stores did not fully launch until Oct. 2024 due to technical delays related to the grocery chain's POS system and impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. FAB brick and mortar retail partner outlets realized the following achievements: 27,736 SNAP transactions processed $158,964.52 in FAB spent on local food 85.57% redemption rate $459,248.06 in SNAP spent on local food 58,016 daily servings of Florida-grown fruits and vegetables 163,548 meals with SNAP & FAB 59 participating Florida farmers $222,550 in economic impact for Florida $1,068,273.04 in local economic impact Goal 3: FAB staff conducted in-person site visits to all active FAB market outlets and provided one-on-one training and technical assistance and support for program operators' capacity to implement nutrition incentive programs. The FAB team also hosted monthly FAB network calls for resiliency and fundraising support and networking, along with virtual sessions for individualized support. FAB's Virtrual Annual Convening was rescheduled to August 21, because of statewide impacts from Hurricane Debby (Aug. 5-6, 2024). Topics included FF and FAB program updates, SNAP compliance reminders, safety and response for pandemics and other natural disaster resources, a placemaking panel discussion, mystery shopper results and breakouts and resource networking. FF also shared SNAP shopper survey results from the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey to help inform targeted needs of clients participating at active FAB outlets. FF anticipates hosting the training in person during the summer of 2025, during Florida's low produce season and alternating between in-person and virtual every other year. FF chose to suspend the 2023-2024 FAB membership fee in light of the severe and widespread impacts of back-to-back storms, Helene and Milton. Membership fees are traditionally used as buy-in and sustainability of the incentive and program from network partners. In spite of this suspension, for GusCRR year 3, FAB member in-kind match totaled $973,818.91. Total match exceeded $1,116,000 for the grant period. Finally, ahead of Florida's hurricane season beginning on June 1, FF continued to refine and promote our Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners. These resources were used ahead of and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Idalia (Aug. 30-31, 2023), Debby (Aug. 4-5, 2024), Helene (Sept. 26-27, 2024) and Milton (Oct. 9-10, 2024). Throughout the course of the grant period, FF will continue to develop and update best practices plans for disaster response and sustainability that can be adapted for distinct market models. Goal 4: FF effectively engaged partner agencies in program improvement and expansion. These points of interaction include: Monthly board reports and quarterly meetings with FF's 9 member food banks across the state to report on the state of the FAB program and examine areas of support and outreach overlap. Collaboration with FF's food bank network: Feeding Tampa Bay and Treasure Coast Food Bank to implement FAB retail pilot with mobile grocery units. 3 partner food banks: Feeding Northeast Florida, Second Harvest of Central Florida and Feeding Tampa Bay on GusNIP 2022 grant proposal for the Healthier Together Produce Prescription program. Connecting markets and retail outlets directly with FLorida Department of Agriculture's Fresh From Florida (FDACS) program on available resources and logistics of upholding the authenticity of Florida grown labeling at farmers markets. Regular communication and check in calls with Florida Dept. of Health, UF FNP, FDACS, Elder Affairs, Market Outlets, and Department of Children and Families (DCF - Florida's SNAP agency) to ensure project awareness and continued collaboration through bi-monthly Food Access Agency calls, organized and facilitated by FAB staff. FAB staff also maintains a Community Partner and Resource page with an up-to-date resources toolkit including flyers, social media templates, press releases, FAB's annual impact data, FAQs and other resources to create awareness around the FAB program. This included a map of active locations and details of markets that was kept current and shared with partner agencies. FF successfully engaged with Florida legislators during the 2024 legislative session to advocate for state funding to match our GusCRR federal funding and expand into larger brick and mortar retail outlets and was awarded a $1M one year appropriation. FF provided SNAP Technical training, technical assistance and materials to farmers markets statewide in the SNAP merchant application process, EBT Service provider and equipment considerations, best practices for SNAP acceptance at market and for the implementation of the incentive program FAB. SNAP Tech outreach included virtual and in-person presentations with the American Heart Association, the Florida Department of Health and UF/IFAS Extension's Small Farm Marketing course. Goal 5: FF implemented streamlined market landscape assessments and FAB self-assessments for active FAB partners to complete in order to evaluate consistent data points that help to clarify key components of a market that can successfully implement a SNAP and SNAP incentive program. FF also participated in the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and monthly Firm Level reporting requirements to evaluate the project's effectiveness in increasing healthy purchases among SNAP participants. This data was synthesized and shared with FAB partners and within our 2023 FAB Impact Report and during the FAB Annual Training on August 21, 2024. Funded through a 2022 NTAE Innovation Grant, FF designed a mystery shopper program evaluation protocol to collaborate with active SNAP participants to engage in mystery shopping at Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) markets across Florida to assess the SNAP shopper experience, as well as FAB vendor program compliance. SNAP shoppers received a stipend for their time and provided feedback on their perceptions of the market environment, evaluated vendors and provided compliance-related data with the goal of creating better outreach materials, a FAB Compliance and Shopper Experience toolkit and a FAB Vendor toolkit. FF created and disseminated our Mystery Shopper Toolkit to the NTAE and will present on impacts, shopper survey analysis and program improvements during the 2025 NI Hub Annual Convening. Finally, the FAB team distributed an annual report for all partner outlets that tracks market spending, key partnerships, successes and challenges. FAB staff monitored and tracked key data points collected by FAB outlet partners on FM Tracks.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) provides targeted support for the over 3 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients throughout Florida in counties: 41 farmers markets, 4 mobile markets, 13 produce stands, 3 CSAs and 7 retail outlets. These counties have populations between 9.6%-24.9% below the poverty line and 55.6%-71.5% of overweight or obese adults. During the reporting time period, the participating outlets geographically spanned from the Florida Panhandle to Homestead in the South, with a peak growing season from October through May. FAB strategically collaborates with farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs, mobile markets and small, independent retailers in and around food deserts, low-income communities, and along transportation routes that feature fresh produce and Florida farmers. Most FAB markets operate year round with some seasonal closures during the summer months. SNAP recipients are the main beneficiaries of this project and FAB market partner sites are concentrated in cities and within rural communities with high concentrations of SNAP clients, however the project also supports P-EBT impacted by COVID-19 and D-SNAP shoppers impacted by natural disasters such as Hurricane Idalia. Over the last fiscal year, efforts to engage the target audience took place at educational events during farmers market events and through collaborations with Florida's SNAP Ed agency, Florida Nutrition Ed and through local, regional and state partners. Feeding Florida continues to engage SNAP clients via collaborations with Florida's SNAP agency: the Department of Children and Families, along with social media outreach, e-newsletters and website features including a SNAP client facing page and Smallchat direct chat. Changes/Problems: FAB outlets reported less overall SNAP clients at markets due to the end of COVID relief funds and a reduction in SNAP allotments within the state; as a result, the number of SNAP shoppers at partner outlets saw a decrease in participation and a reduction in total SNAP incentives compared to 2020-2021 pandemic years, though rising food and housing costs continue to negatively Floridians, particularly seniors, children and people with disabilities. In 2022, FF was awarded Florida's SNAP-Ed contract for adult education in all 67 counties. FF's staff quickly doubled with an additional 6 staff members, overloading outdated policies and low-tech procedures. FF hired an external firm to develop a 5 year strategic plan and is now in the process of creating better staff support and onboarding policies, scaled systems for day to day operations, and better opportunities for collaboration across programs. FAB and the FF SNAP Ed teams anticipate stronger alignment over the next fiscal year. In response to outdated systems of tracking, reporting and implementing the FAB program, along with a response to the unprecedented loss of over 13 outlets due to the rippling impacts of COVID the previous fiscal year, FF devoted much of this year to scaling outdated systems including: Developing the Decision Matrix: a recruitment tool to sustainability recruit, onboard and retain outlets in the FAB program; Transitioning our contracts to DocuSign; Migrating our daily work to Google Workspace; Streamlining our evaluation processes; Launching and troubleshooting the Mystery Shopper Project through Qualtrics and Rybbon And assessing the need for and seeking quotes for a new FAB website While FF exceeded our goal of sustainability onboarding five farm-direct outlets, FAB only successfully onboarded one brick and mortar retail outlet. FF struggled to evaluate the capabilities of retailer POS systems, as there were too many variables across small, independent stores to develop a cohesive retail program within the timeline. We endeavor to exceed our retail onboarding requirement over the next fiscal year. Florida experienced three named hurricanes over the last fiscal year: Hurricane Ian (Sept. 28-30, 2022), Hurricane Nicole (Nov. 10, 2022) and Hurricane Idalia (August 29-30, 2023) -which severely impacted Floridians' access to basic necessities including food, water and electricity, caused damage to Florida crops, farm and market infrastructures, flooding and market closures throughout the state. In response to Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Idalia, FF protocols were put into place to ensure as many resources could be deployed emergency food and water on behalf of the state of Florida to support food security for impacted communities. FNS approved early release of SNAP benefits for Floridians; FNS and the Florida Department of Children and Families implemented Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) for the following counties and received a hot food waiver for SNAP purchases; FF offered an unlimited SNAP incentive match: Hurricane Ian: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia Hurricane Idalia: Hot food allowances for 23 counties through Sept. 30th, impacting 21 FAB farm-direct and retail outlets in the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Wakulla D-SNAP extended to the following counties, impacting one FAB outlet: Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties Hurricane Ian Impacts Cont: SWFL Produce -temporarily not able to deliver, but is scheduling pick ups. Not able to replant currently because of flood contamination, provided farmer relief resources SWFL farmer updates: Majority sustained wind damage -fallen trees and loss of crops, but are able to replant Other farmers closer to waterways, like SWFL Produce, sustained serious flooding that washed away crops and contaminated soil Many citrus growers throughout SWFL lost entire season's crop and won't have citrus again until fall 2023. Many smaller citrus growers lost their businesses as a result of Hurricane Ian and hard freeze in early 2022 that damaged Florida's citrus crop Economists estimate up to $1.56 billion hit to Florida agriculture due to Hurricane Ian During the summer months, FF doubled P-EBT benefits for school aged children for school meal replacement. Partner outlets lost FY1 Sept 1 2022-Aug 31 2023 Mid-Cape Farmers Market -last transaction occurred on Nov. 6, 2022 UFA - last transaction occurred on Oct. 28, 2022 Olde Englewood Village Farmers Market- Officially April 2023, last transaction May 26, 2022 FAB Markets continue to express that an inadequate number of paid market staff hinders their ability to provide sufficient outreach to SNAP recipients to inform them of the program, fundraise independently for their SNAP efforts and conduct nutrition education efforts. FAB farm-direct outlets continue to express a desire to offer online SNAP, though there are cost and tech barriers. Transportation to and from FAB markets continues to be a barrier to participation across the state. ? What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? FAB Partner Trainings, Webinars and Community Info Sessions -FF organized training sessions with 8 new partners and refresher trainings with 20 current partners where market staff and vendors participated in FAB trainings and information sessions. These trainings included USDA regulations for authorized SNAP retailers to ensure they are in compliance with all relevant SNAP operating requirements. In addition, 1 distinct FAB retail pilot training session occurred to train FAB retail partner staff members on the Fresh Access Bucks program. FAB Site Visits - FAB staff conducted in-person site visits with all FAB outlets to monitor procedures and ensure standardization and accuracy of program implementation, provided training and technical assistance to staff, volunteers and vendors, and conducted secret shopping to ensure integrity of FAB program. Mystery Shopper Project -Funded through a 2022 NI Hub Innovation Grant, FF designed a new program evaluation protocol to collaborate with active SNAP participants to engage in mystery shopping at Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) markets across Florida to assess the SNAP shopper experience, as well as FAB vendor program compliance. SNAP shoppers received a stipend for their time and provided feedback on their perceptions of the market environment, evaluated vendors and provided compliance-related data with the goal of creating better outreach materials, a FAB Compliance and Shopper Experience toolkit and a FAB Vendor toolkit. FAB Technical Support - FAB staff provided technical support to project partners to ensure they had the capacity to implement the project and comply with USDA regulations through email, webinars and phone calls. Monthly, FAB Network-Wide Conference Calls - FF hosts a monthly FAB network call on the first Wednesday of each month, attended by all active FAB partners that serves as an opportunity to share FAB updates, share what's going well/not going well and talk to other market managers. Topics of discussion included market sustainability and resiliency, resources related to natural disasters, online SNAP technologies and virtual shopping platforms. Fundraising Community of Practice -FF hosts a bi-monthly FAB team and partner-led gathering space to discuss fundraising hopes, challenges and opportunities for their outlets/markets, farms, businesses, as well as the FAB annual membership fees. The Fundraising CoP is a space for learning and conversation with peers participating in the FAB network and is facilitated by FAB Director. SNAP/EBT Equipment Technical Support - FF provided training, technical assistance and materials to farmers markets statewide in the SNAP merchant application process, EBT Service provider and equipment considerations, best practices for SNAP acceptance at market and for the implementation of the incentive program FAB. SNAP Tech outreach included virtual and in-person presentations with the American Heart Association, Florida Department of Children and Families' Hope Navigator Program and the Florida Department of Health and UF/IFAS Extension's Small Farm Marketing course and in partnership with Marketlink. FM Tracks Data Collection - FAB markets received training on the innovative iOS application (app) called FM Tracks, developed by Case Western Reserve University, which assists with data collection and monitoring at market. Trainings included one-on-one technical support via the phone/email, webinars, hand-outs, and in-person workshops. The app ensures that FAB markets effectively track progress and growth over the course of the grant. Case Western University brings expertise and a track record in project evaluation to analyze variations across sites annually for their relationship to site-level indicators (e.g. transactions), site characteristics, and community demographics. FAB Toolkit - FAB staff refined, updated and shared materials with project partners including but not limited to the following FAB toolkit components: program descriptions to communicate to potential partner markets, mid and season-end report forms, data collection tools, FAB MM guide, vendor guide, flyer templates, recommended signage, vendor agreements, accounting and recording keeping templates, promotional materials, nutrition education ideas, evaluations, fundraising ideas, Florida farmers market regulations, and EBT Service Provider and Payment Option information. FF updated and refined our Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners ahead of Hurricane Ian (Sept. 28-30, 2022),Hurricane Nicole (Nov. 10, 2022) and Hurricane Idalia (August 29-30, 2023). Webinars and trainings for FAB partners: FF developed resources, training materials and a webinar for partner outlets participating in the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey Data Collection Training and Survey and FAB Mystery Shopper program; hosted an all network in-person annual training for FAB partners in Jacksonville, Florida on July 26, 2023. FAB Network Growth and Collaboration - FF provided the following opportunities for FAB markets to connect and share challenges and successes: FF shared FAB partner contact information so markets can call/email one another. Public Facebook Page for FAB - "Fresh Access Bucks" -this is our public facebook page for the statewide program. Our partners and vendors use this page to share the SNAP incentive program with eligible audiences who are otherwise not being reached. Visit another FAB Market - We encourage our FAB partners to visit each other's markets and see how the program operates across the state. FAB Partners have access to Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) Online resource library FAB is a member of the Nutrition Incentive Hub, which provides resources and tech support for Nutrition Incentive programs, including access to the NI Hub Annual Convening. FAB contracted with Fair Food Network and National Grocers Association Foundation to provide retail resources and tech support that has increased the networking capacity of the FF network of markets. FAB Annual Training: FAB's annual network-wide training took place in Jacksonville, Florida on July 26, 2023; this was the first time since 2019 that the event was held in-person. Topics included federal policy, FAB program and SNAP technical updates, program implementation trivia, presentations by Feeding Florida's SNAP-Ed Florida Nutrition program, resource and core dilemma peer networking and hands on program data support. FF also shared SNAP shopper survey results from the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey to help inform targeted needs of clients participating at active FAB outlets. Due to high costs and logistics of hosting large-scale in-person events, FF anticipates hosting next year's annual training virtually, and alternating between in-person and virtual every other year. Professional Development for FF Staff: FF values professional development for all staff and endeavors to provide access to platforms of interest to our staff. PD for staff included: the 2023 NI Hub Convening in Washington DC; NI Hub State Expansion Mini Convening in Philadelphia; Florida Blue Community Health Symposium & Sapphire Awards in Orlando; SNEB Conference in Washington DC; NTAE Community of Practice calls for Brick and Mortar Retail, Healthy Corner Stores, Nutrition Education, Local and Regional Sourcing in Grocery and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in NI Programs; NI Hub State Funding for Nutrition Incentives Cohort; attendance at the National Rural Grocery Summit in Wichita, KS; and the Voices for Healthy Kids Summit in New Mexico. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?FAB staff shared impact with partner organizations via one on one meetings, community meetings and bi-monthly Food Access Agency calls, organized and facilitated by FAB staff and bi-monthly SE Regional NI/PPR Program calls with practitioners in the Southeastern US, also created and facilitated by FAB staff. Information regarding program activities are shared to communities through virtual information sessions, press releases and social media posts. FAB also maintains an active Community Resources webpage and a SNAP Shopper Resources webpage to digitally disseminate program materials and information to partner agencies and SNAP clients. FAB partner outlets regularly engage with community based organizations to share the impact and availability of their programs. Virtual engagement conducted during this reporting period include: Florida Nutrition Ed Program Florida Impact to End Hunger Florida state SNAP Agency - Department of Children and Families (DCF) Florida Department of Children Families Hope Navigators Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Florida Organic Growers Local Food Project Elder Affairs Florida Department of Health Florida Food Policy Council UF/IFAS and Family Nutrition Program American Heart Association Feeding Florida's 9 member bank network: Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Feeding Northeast Florida, Second Harvest Central Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, All Faiths Food Bank, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Feeding South Florida Over the course of the grant period, FAB staff have presented statewide sessions with UF/IFAS and FNP, The Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Children and Families, FL Food Policy Council and FL Department of Agriculture, Florida Food Policy Council, Florida Organic Growers and Consumers, Florida's Nutrition Ed program, Nationally, FAB has presented impacts via bi-monthly SE Regional NI/PPR Program calls with practitioners in the Southeastern US (Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky), also created and facilitated by FAB staff; At the 2023 Statewide Scale Mini-Convening, 2023 HI Nub Convening, the 2023 SNEB Conference, and during Farm Bill Listening Sessions, a meeting with the Congressional Delegation, and with federal legislators in the House and Senate. FF collaborated with a graphic designer to create the 2022 FAB Impact Report from data synthesized from FMTracks, SNAP shopper surveying and annual evaluations from FAB outlet partners. The Impact Report was shared through our email listserv, with state and national stakeholders, FF's 9 member foodbank, and to the public via FAB's website and social media channels. FF also collaborated with a graphic designer to update and provided the following standard marketing and promotional materials for farm-direct outlets to increase their outreach about FAB: FAB logo, social media graphics, tents, banners, bilingual flyers, county-wide posters and flyers, bilingual brochures, loyalty cards and regional postcards. For FAB retail partners, FF co-developed the following with our graphic designer: FAB retail one pager, multi-lingual price cards, shopping guides, posters, banners, flyers, buttons, shelf talkers and other promotional materials internal and external to retail outlets. FF created press releases that were distributed to local and state media contacts to announce participation in the FAB program. FF continues to maintain www.FreshAccessBucks.com domain name, with a refined and updated website that includes downloadable promotional materials and an interactive map with market partner information and resources. The Feeding Florida website that hostsThe Feeding Florida website that hosts the FAB webpage, averages over 7,315 views per month, including an average of 1,773 new webpage visits per month coming directly from Florida Department of Children and Families webpage. Through the SmallChat feature, FAB answered 1,011 real time direct messages from website visitors to provide them with resources and information on how to access food. FAB's social media accounts have grown by 117 followers over the past fiscal year. FAB's social media pages now have over 3,015 combined followers and an average monthly post reach of 3,103. Ahead of hurricane season (June 1-Nov 30), FF continued to update and refine our Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners ahead of Hurricane Ian (Sept. 28-30, 2022) and Hurricane Idalia (August 29-30, 2023). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1: Over 4 years, expand FAB to 85 direct-to-consumer outlets (farmers markets, CSAs, mobile markets, farm stores) including 65 already participating (legacy) markets and 5 to be added each year. Continue to identify new market partners that meet criteria on an ongoing basis and provide SNAP technical support to direct marketing farmers and farmers markets Expand use of our data-driven evaluation tool, the Decision Matrix, to better identify areas of need and sustainable program partners that are able to thrive in the FAB program Create a new FAB outlet onboarding cohort to support streamlined training and peer-to-peer support Enter into contracts with 5 new farm-direct partners to exceed the goal of 85 active market partners. Continue to engage with statewide partners and stakeholders to increase FAB's visibility, funding support and engagement from SNAP shoppers Provide training and resources to FAB partner outlets -both new and legacy to ensure better sustainability Engage with and garner important feedback from SNAP shoppers via the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and on the Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance survey funded through a 2022 NI Hub Innovation grant on FAB program operations and create FAB Compliance and Shopper Experience and FAB Vendor toolkits. Ensure FAB partners and participating vendors abide by federal regulations around SNAP and FAB programs. Partners will sign formal contracts with all participating vendors that state that they will comply with SNAP and FAB program regulations. Compliance with this agreement will be enforced and monitored by FF. Maintain and provide up to date SNAP Tech assistance information for the state direct marketing farmers and markets. Goal 2: Over 4 years, expand FAB's grocery store nutrition incentive program, including 4 already participating (legacy) outlets and 3 to be added each year. Onboard a minimum of 3 retail partners to begin implementing an incentive program. Provide training for retail outlet managers and staff for proper program implementation. Create directed promotional material to increase awareness of the retail incentive program and distribute to retail partners. Maintain regular communication and data collection to monitor program successes and challenges. Conduct virtual site visits to active and potential retail outlets Collaborate with NTAE and NGAF to identify solutions for POS technical system advancements for SNAP incentive programs to operate more effectively Engage with Florida legislators and advocate for state funding to match our GusCRR federal funding and expand into larger brick and mortar retail outlets; the goal of this campaign is to advocate for a line item in Florida's SNAP Appropriations budget to provide matching funds for FAB incentives at additional retail outlets across the state. Goal 3: Improve FAB partner resiliency through TA and capacity building. FF will continue the tiered membership system to ensure program buy-in from the communities where partner outlets operate. FF will continue to facilitate the SE Regional NI/PPR Program call with practitioners in the Southeastern US to collaborate and share best practices. FAB partner outlets will attend annual FAB training presented by FF and participate in monthly regional conference calls. FAB staff will provide professional development on market sustainability, program implementation, and relevant outreach and marketing. FAB staff will offer Fundraising Community of Practice peer-led spaces and a New FAB Outlet Onboarding Cohort model for new outlets. FF will maintain strategic state and regional partnerships that support partner markets. FAB staff will conduct site visits for training and program consistency. FF will continue to provide resources to ensure program success for active FAB partners Goal 4: Design and implement a statewide communications strategy to engage SNAP households and program operators as well as government, non-profit, and for-profit partners in order to effectively inform and energize FAB stakeholders and ensure the program assists low-income families participating in SNAP access available resources. FF will continue to design and implement seasonal outreach campaigns to actively engagement participation FF will continue to engage stakeholders statewide in an effort to maximize the access to Florida-grown fruits and vegetables for SNAP consumers. FAB staff will communicate with regional and state agencies and community champions and continue to facilitate the Florida Food Access Agency calls on a bi-monthly basis FF will continue to update Community Partner resources and present on FAB at regional, state and national convenings. Goal 5: Evaluate Fresh Access Bucks Progress and Outcomes. FF will continue to collect and monitor all key program requirements via FM Tracks FF will conduct market landscape assessments at all active and potential FAB partner outlet sites. FF will analyze partner data to guide best practices for SNAP participation. FF will garner SNAP feedback from SNAP shoppers via the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and on a Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance survey funded through a 2022 NI Hub Innovation grant on FAB program operations FF will participate in the NTAE monthly Firm Level reporting requirements to evaluate the project's effectiveness in increasing healthy purchases among SNAP participants FF will analyze data collected through the FAB partner annual report and share FAB's impacts with SNAP customers, FAB partners, statewide and national partners and stakeholders.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: During FF's second fiscal year under GusCRR, the FAB program onboarded 7 new farm-direct outlets, exceeding our goal of 5 new outlets. At the end of fiscal year 1, FF retained a total of 63 active FAB farm-direct outlets. FAB farm-direct partner outlets realized the following achievements: 18,196 SNAP and P-EBT transactions processed 5,064 new SNAP and P-EBT customers $458,731.18 in FAB redeemed $ 532,210.60 in SNAP and P-EBT redeemed Goal 2: During FF's second GusCRR fiscal year, the FAB program onboarded 1 retail/brick and mortar retail outlets: 1 independently owned grocery outlet and retained 6 other outlets: 2 small independent grocery stores, 1 health food store, 1 community cooperative, and 2 food bank mobile grocery stores, for a total of 7 outlets operating in the program at the of the year. FAB successfully identified and collaborated with retailers in underserved and rural communities with high SNAP sales that traditionally lack access to farmers markets and large scale grocery stores and has several outlets we anticipate bringing into the program during the next fiscal year. Ongoing research into effective, replicable SNAP incentive technologies was conducted with support from statewide and community partners including FFN, the Nutrition Incentive Hub (NI Hub) and the National Grocers Association Foundation (NGAF) and lack of affordable POS technologies that can integrate SNAP incentives continue to be barrier of entry for many retailers.FAB brick and mortar retail partner outlets realized the following achievements: 20,553 SNAP transactions processed $98,061.85 in FAB redeemed $372,563.87 in SNAP redeemed Goal 3: FAB staff conducted in-person site visits to all active FAB market outlets and provided one-on-one training and technical assistance and support for program operators' capacity to implement nutrition incentive programs. The FAB team also hosted monthly FAB network calls for resiliency and fundraising support and networking, along with virtual sessions for individualized support. FAB's annual network-wide training took place in Jacksonville, Florida on July 26, 2023; this was the first time since 2019 that the event was held in-person. Topics included federal policy, FAB program and SNAP technical updates, program implementation trivia, presentations by Feeding Florida's SNAP-Ed Florida Nutrition program, resource and core dilemma peer networking and hands on program data support. FF also shared SNAP shopper survey results from the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey to help inform targeted needs of clients participating at active FAB outlets. Due to high costs and logistics of hosting large-scale in-person events, FF anticipates hosting next year's annual training virtually, and alternating between in-person and virtual every other year. FF's tiered level participation fees encouraged buy-in and sustainability of the incentive and program from network partners -both legacy and new. Discussions around membership also realized a greater focus by market partner outlets on the need for market-level sustainability planning. At the end of GusCRR year 2, FAB member participation fees totaled $25,760.27 toward FF's FINI match calculation across the grant period, and $804,620.15 in in-kind match over the grant period. Finally, ahead of Florida's hurricane season beginning on June 1, FF continued to refine and promote our Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners. These resources were used ahead of and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Idalia, impacting the state of Florida in the fall of 2022 and Summer of 2023. Throughout the course of the grant period, FF will continue to develop and update best practices plans for disaster response and sustainability that can be adapted for distinct market models. Goal 4: FF effectively engaged partner agencies in program improvement and expansion. These points of interaction include: Partnership building on program expansion with senior living facilities - FAB connects Elder Affairs and Council on Aging staff with University of Florida Family Nutrition Program with area farmers on Senior CSA (Farm to Community) projects. Monthly board reports and quarterly meetings with FF's 9 member food banks across the state to report on state of the FAB program and examine areas of support and outreach overlap. Collaboration with FF's food bank network: 2 Florida food banks: Feeding Tampa Bay and Treasure Coast Food Bank to implement FAB retail pilot with mobile grocery units. 3 partner food banks: Feeding Northeast Florida, Second Harvest of Central Florida and Feeding Tampa Bay on GusNIP 2022 grant proposal for the Healthier Together Produce Prescription program. This project is slated to launch in January 2024. Connecting markets and retail outlets directly with FLorida Department of Agriculture's Fresh From Florida (FDACS) program on available resources and logistics of upholding the authenticity of Florida grown labeling at farmers markets. Regular communication and check in calls with Florida Dept. of Health, UF FNP, FDACS, Elder Affairs, Market Outlets, and Department of Children and Families (DCF - Florida's SNAP agency) to ensure project awareness and continued collaboration through bi-monthly Food Access Agency calls, organized and facilitated by FAB staff. FAB staff also maintains a Community Partner and Resource page with an up-to-date resources toolkit including flyers, social media templates, press releases, FAB's annual impact data, FAQs and other resources to create awareness around the FAB program. This included a map of active locations and details of markets that was kept current and shared with partner agencies. FF engaged with Florida legislators during the 2023 legislative session to advocate for state funding to match our GusCRR federal funding and expand into larger brick and mortar retail outlets; the goal of this campaign was to advocate for a line item in Florida's SNAP Appropriations budget to provide matching funds for FAB incentives at additional retail outlets across the state. Unfortunately, our appropriations request did not make the final budget, but we are actively seeking funding again during the 2024 legislative session. FF provided SNAP Technical training, technical assistance and materials to farmers markets statewide in the SNAP merchant application process, EBT Service provider and equipment considerations, best practices for SNAP acceptance at market and for the implementation of the incentive program FAB. SNAP Tech outreach included virtual and in-person presentations with the American Heart Association, the Florida Department of Health and UF/IFAS Extension's Small Farm Marketing course. Goal 5: FF created and launched streamlined market landscape assessments and FAB self-assessments for active FAB partners to complete in order to evaluate consistent data points that help to clarify key components of a market that can successfully implement a SNAP and SNAP incentive program. FF also participated in the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and monthly Firm Level reporting requirements to evaluate the project's effectiveness in increasing healthy purchases among SNAP participants. This data was synthesized and shared with FAB partners and within our 2022 FAB Impact Report and at the FAB Annual Training on July 26, 2023. Finally, the FAB team distributed an annual report for all partner outlets that tracks market spending, key partnerships, successes and challenges. FAB staff monitored and tracked key data points collected by FAB outlet partners on FM Tracks. These data sets were distributed quarterly to partner outlets to track trends and assist with year over year analysis.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) provides targeted support for the over 3 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients throughout Florida in counties: 37 farmers markets, 9 mobile markets, 13 produce stands, 8 CSAs and 7 retail outlets. These counties have populations between 9.6%-24.9% below the poverty line and 55.6%-71.5% of overweight or obese adults. During the reporting time period, the participating outlets geographically spanned from the Florida Panhandle to Key West in the South, with a peak growing season from October through May. FAB strategically collaborates with farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs, mobile markets and small, independent retailers in and around food deserts, low-income communities, and along transportation routes that feature fresh produce and Florida farmers. Most FAB markets operate year round with some seasonal closures during the summer months. SNAP recipients are the main beneficiaries of this project and FAB market partner sites are concentrated in cities and within rural communities with high concentrations of SNAP clients, however the project also supports P-EBT impacted by COVID-19 and D-SNAP shoppers impacted by Hurricane Ian. Prior to COVID-19, efforts to engage the target audience took place at educational events during farmers market business hours and at community information sessions and in collaboration with local, regional and state partners. Since the pandemic, more emphasis has been placed on SNAP recipient engagement via collaborations with Florida's SNAP agency: the Department of Children and Families, along with social media outreach, e-newsletters and website features including a SNAP client facing page and Smallchat direct chat. Changes/Problems: The FAB program operated under a 2018 FINI extension year until December 14, 2021 at which point we shifted to GusCRR grant funding to support SNAP incentive expenses. As such, GusCRR funding drawdown for SNAP incentives for farm-direct outlets was delayed and operated from December 14, 2021-August 31, 2022; FAB's brick and mortar retail outlets was delayed and operated from January 1, 2022-August 31, 2022. Staff changes: In December 2021, FF hired two new positions: FAB Regional & Evaluation Coordinator Dehlia Albrecht and FAB Regional & Nutrition Ed Coordinator Jordyn Vitorino to bring our team to a total of 5 staff members. These positions have been crucial in designing and implementing our evaluation strategies, nutrition education and natural disaster toolkits, and will be integral in the Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance protocols developed in 2022-2023. On January 1, 2022 in response to pandemic pressure easements, FF resumed a $40 match cap on SNAP purchases in order to sustain program funding capacity. Previously, FF had lifted to an unlimited match at all farm-direct outlets from April 2020-December 31, 2021. In July 2022, FAB awarded 4-year, 2022 FL Blue Food Security Grant: Expanding Feeding Florida's Fresh Access Bucks Program to Increase Nutrition Security, $399,283 In July 2022, FAB awarded 2022 large scale, 3-year GusNIP PPR: Healthier Together Produce Prescription program, $499,999 In August 2022, FAB awarded 2022 NI Hub Innovation grant in the amount of $30,623.47 to create Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance protocol and toolkits Florida experiences natural disasters almost annually that impacted Floridians' access to basic necessities including food, water and electricity, caused damage to Florida crops, farm and market infrastructures, flooding and market closures throughout the state. While Hurricanes Ian and Nicole took place just beyond the reporting period for this grant, protocols were put into place ahead of time to ensure as many resources could be deployed as possible to elevate suffering and food insecurity. The temporary 15 percent increase to SNAP that had been authorized by Congress to help families out during COVID expired at the end of September 2021 and negatively impacted the amount of funding SNAP recipients qualified for; as a result, the number of SNAP shoppers at partner outlets saw a decrease in participation. For the first time in the history of the program, FAB lost an unprecedented 13 outlets including 6 farmers markets, 1 online market and 6 farmstand/CSA outlets due to rippling impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 10/01/21: St Pete Saturday Morning Market Online Farmers Market does not relaunch for fall season due to challenges with having enough staff and volunteers to run both the in-person market and the online farmers market. 10/01/21: Atlanta Braves Farmers Market decides they will not be reopening for the season due to lack of attendance. 12/07/21: DIG Local Midweek Market closes down; had moved to a new location and was struggling to get vendors and shoppers to attend the market mid-day on Wednesdays. The staff is also limited to one part time market manager and she is at capacity already. 2/22: Kenwood Organic Produce - owners sell business to Michael Henry LLC to pursue other projects 2/22: Dirty Dog Organics -closed farm stand/store due to personal reasons; too difficult to offer SNAP/FAB for their CSA without an e-system/online payment capabilities 2/22: High Springs Farmers Market -discrepancies between distributed vs. redeemed FAB 3/2022: Key West Farmers Market stops offering SNAP and FAB due to loss of FMPP grant that would provide funding for staff time and promotion. 5/19/22: Berry Good Farms ends partnership with FAB program. Market will continue to operate at the school during the regular school season, but they do not have a dedicated staff person who is interested in perpetuating the program, do not have funding or support for SNAP/FAB program outreach and found that location and time of market was not conducive for SNAP shoppers to participate. 5/22: Urban Folk Farm ends CSA and decides not to continue farm operations due to the cost of equipment, labor, the rising impacts of climate change on their farm and burn out. 6/22: UOP closes Market Mondays at Arsht Center, location not a good fit 6/22: Friends of Sarasota County Parks- market manager in contract with FoSCP to manage Englewood and Venice Farmers Markets retires, city puts out new RFP for market management and market management of Venice Farmers Market changes to Independent Jones, Independent Jones becomes new FAB partner and there is a seamless transition. Market management of Englewood Farmers Market also changes management to Rotary Club sunset and changes name to Olde Englewood Village Farmers Market. 8/22: Hubbell Farms -rising costs of gas and fresh Florida-grown produce procurement has become too difficult for their business to sustain 8/22: The Family Garden -loss of staff and growing capacity/issues on farm 8/31/22: LeGrand Caribbean Market, part of FAB's retail program, closes -patronage had declined over the pandemic and the family business owners became burnt out and needed a break. They will maintain their restaurant, however. FAB Markets continue to express that an inadequate number of paid market staff hinders their ability to provide sufficient outreach to SNAP recipients to inform them of the program, fundraise independently for their SNAP efforts and conduct nutrition education efforts. Transportation to and from FAB markets continues to be a barrier to participation across the state. FF struggled to evaluate the capabilities of retailer POS systems, as there were too many variables across small, independent stores to develop a cohesive retail program within the timeline. ? What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? FAB Partner Trainings, Webinars and Community Info Sessions -FF organized virtual training sessions with 12 new partners where market staff and vendors participated in FAB trainings and information sessions before the program began. These trainings included USDA regulations for authorized SNAP retailers to ensure they are in compliance with all relevant SNAP operating requirements. In addition, 6 distinct FAB retail pilot training sessions occurred to train FAB retail partner staff members on the Fresh Access Bucks program. FAB Site Visits - FF conducted in-person site visits with all FAB outlets to monitor procedures and ensure standardization and accuracy of program implementation, provided training and technical assistance to staff, volunteers and vendors, and conducted secret shopping to ensure integrity of FAB program. FAB Technical Support - FAB staff provided technical support to project partners to ensure they had the capacity to implement the project and comply with USDA regulations through email, webinars and phone calls. Monthly, FAB Network-Wide Conference Calls - FF hosts a monthly FAB network call on the first Wednesday of each month, attended by all active FAB partners that serves as an opportunity to share FAB updates, share what's going well/not going well and talk to other market managers. Topics of discussion included market sustainability and resiliency, resources related to natural disasters, online SNAP technologies and virtual shopping platforms. SNAP/EBT Equipment Technical Support - FF provided training, technical assistance and materials to farmers markets statewide in the SNAP merchant application process, EBT Service provider and equipment considerations, best practices for SNAP acceptance at market and for the implementation of the incentive program FAB. SNAP Tech outreach included virtual and in-person presentations with the American Heart Association, the Florida Department of Health and UF/IFAS Extension's Small Farm Marketing course. FM Tracks Data Collection - FAB markets received training on the innovative iOS application (app) called FM Tracks, developed by Case Western Reserve University, which assists with data collection and monitoring at market. Trainings included one-on-one technical support via the phone/email, webinars, hand-outs, and in-person workshops. The app ensures that FAB markets effectively track progress and growth over the course of the grant. Case Western University brings expertise and a track record in project evaluation to analyze variations across sites annually for their relationship to site-level indicators (e.g. transactions), site characteristics, and community demographics. FAB Toolkit - FAB staff refined, updated and shared materials with project partners including but not limited to the following FAB toolkit components: program descriptions to communicate to potential partner markets, mid and season-end report forms, data collection tools, FAB MM guide, vendor guide, flyer templates, recommended signage, vendor agreements, accounting and recording keeping templates, promotional materials, nutrition education ideas, evaluations, fundraising ideas, Florida farmers market regulations, and EBT Service Provider and Payment Option information. FAB Staff shifted the FAB toolkit to an accessible portal on the FF website for more widespread and convenient access. Webinars for FAB partners - FF developed resources, training materials and a webinar for partner outlets participating in the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey Data Collection Training and Survey; these resources were adopted into the NI Hub Searchable Resource Library for use by other grantees. FAB network partners were also invited to participate in the 2022 NI Hub Convening. FAB Communications Coordinator Meghan Fiveash was a co-presenter along with Elizabeth Borst of Virginia Fresh Match on the following NI Hub Convening presentation: A Shared Table: Cultivating Statewide Partnerships to Strengthen Nutrition Incentive Programs. FAB Network Growth and Collaboration - FF provided the following opportunities for FAB markets to connect and share challenges and successes: FF shared FAB partner contact information so markets can call/email one another. Public Facebook Page for FAB - "Fresh Access Bucks" This is our public facebook page for the statewide program. Our partners and vendors use this page to share the SNAP incentive program with eligible audiences who are otherwise not being reached. Visit another FAB Market - We encourage our FAB partners to visit each other's markets and see how the program operates across the state. FAB Partners have access to Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) Online resource library FAB is a member of the Nutrition Incentive Hub, which provides resources and tech support for Nutrition Incentive programs. FAB contracted with Fair Food Network and National Grocers Association Foundation to provide retail resources and tech support that has increased the networking capacity of the FF network of markets. FAB Annual Trainings: FAB's annual 2-day network-wide training took place virtually during FF's FINI extension year. Topics included SNAP and FAB program implementation, marketing and promotion, safety and response for pandemics and other natural disasters, resiliency discussions, resource networking. FF also shared SNAP shopper survey results from the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey to help inform targeted needs of clients participating at active FAB outlets. The second day of the virtual training was devoted to a Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation presented by Bread for the World, a national organization centered around ending hunger. FF anticipates hosting the training in person during the summer of 2023, during Florida's low produce season. Professional Development for FF Staff: FF values professional development for all staff and endeavor to provide access to platforms of interest to our staff. PD for staff included: the 2022 NI Hub Convening; NTAE Community of Practice calls for Brick and Mortar Retail, Healthy Corner Stores, Nutrition Education, Local and Regional Sourcing in Grocery and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in NI Programs; NI Hub State Funding for Nutrition Incentives Cohort; attendance at the National Rural Grocery Summit in Wichita, KS; and the Voices for Healthy Kids Summit in New Mexico. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?FF shared impact with partner organizations via one on one meetings, community meetings and bi-monthly Food Access Agency calls, organized and facilitated by FF. Information regarding program activities are shared to communities through virtual information sessions, press releases and social media posts. FAB also maintains an active Community Resources webpage and a SNAP Shopper Resources webpage to digitally disseminate program materials and information to partner agencies and SNAP clients. FAB partner outlets regularly engage with community based organizations to share the impact and availability of their programs. Virtual engagement conducted during this reporting period include: Florida Impact to End Hunger Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Florida state SNAP Agency - Department of Children and Families (DCF) Elder Affairs Florida Department of Health Florida Food Policy Council UF/IFAS and Family Nutrition Program American Heart Association Feeding Florida's 12 member bank network: Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Florida Gateway Food Bank, Feeding Northeast Florida, Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, First Step Food Bank, Second Harvest Central Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, All Faiths Food Bank Treasure Coast Food Bank, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Feeding South Florida FF presented statewide sessions with UF/IFAS and FNP, The Florida Department of Health, FL Food Policy Council and FL Department of Agriculture Nationally, FFpresented impacts at the 2022 HI Nub Convening on statewide partnerships FF created an annual FAB Impact Report from data synthesized from FMTracks, SNAP shopper surveying and annual evaluations from FAB outlet partners. The Impact Report was shared through our email listserv, with state and national stakeholders, FF's 12 member foodbank, and to the public via FAB's website and social media channels. FF provided standard marketing and promotional materials for farm-direct outlets to increase their outreach about FAB: FAB logo, social media graphics, tents, banners, bilingual flyers, county-wide posters and flyers, bilingual brochures, loyalty cards and regional postcards. For FAB retail partners, FF co-developed the following with our graphic designer: FAB retail one pager, multi-lingual price cards, shopping guides, posters, banners, flyers, buttons, shelf talkers and other promotional materials internal and external to retail outlets. FF created press releases that were distributed to local and state media contacts to announce participation in the FAB program. FF continues to maintain www.FreshAccessBucks.com domain name, with a refined and updated website that includes downloadable promotional materials and an interactive map with market partner information and resources. The Feeding Florida website that hosts the FAB webpage averages over 5,500 views per month, including over 2,400 webpage visits per month coming directly from Florida Department of Children and Families webpage. FAB's social media accounts have grown by 1,446 followers over the past fiscal year. FAB's social media pages now have over 2,898 combined followers and an average monthly post reach of 4,860. Ahead of Florida's hurricane season beginning on June 1, FF developed and released the Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners. Additionally, a map of active locations and details was kept current. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1: Over 4 years, expand FAB to 85 direct-to-consumer outlets (farmers markets, CSAs, mobile markets, farm stores) including 65 already participating (legacy) markets and 5 to be added each year. Continue to identify new market partners that meet criteria on an ongoing basis Develop a data-driven evaluation tool, the Decision Matrix, to better identify areas of need and sustainable program partners that are able to thrive in the FAB program Enter into contracts with 5 new farm-direct partners to exceed the goal of 85 active market partners. Continue to engage with statewide partners and stakeholders to increase FAB's visibility, funding support and engagement from SNAP shoppers Provide training and resources to FAB partner outlets -both new and legacy to ensure better sustainability Engage with and garner important feedback from SNAP shoppers via the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and on a Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance survey funded through a 2022 NI Hub Innovation grant on FAB program operations Ensure FAB partners and participating vendors abide by federal regulations around SNAP and FAB programs. Partners will sign formal contracts with all participating vendors that state that they will comply with SNAP and FAB program regulations. Compliance with this agreement will be enforced and monitored by FF. Maintain and provide up to date SNAP Tech assistance information for the state direct marketing farmers and markets. Goal 2: Over 4 years, expand FAB's grocery store nutrition incentive program, including 4 already participating (legacy) outlets and 3 to be added each year. Onboard a minimum of 3 retail partners to begin implementing an incentive program. Provide training for retail outlet managers and staff for proper program implementation. Create directed promotional material to increase awareness of the retail incentive program and distribute to retail partners. Maintain regular communication and data collection to monitor program successes and challenges. Conduct virtual site visits to active and potential retail outlets Collaborate with NTAE and NGAF to identify solutions for POS technical system advancements for SNAP incentive programs to operate more effectively Engage with Florida legislators on American Heart Association Voices for Healthy Kids campaign in collaboration with Florida Impact to End Hunger. The goal of this campaign is to advocate for a line item in Florida's SNAP Appropriations budget to provide matching funds for FAB incentives at additional retail outlets across the state. Goal 3: Improve FAB partner resiliency through TA and capacity building. FF will continue the tiered membership system to ensure program buy-in from the communities where partner outlets operate. FAB partner outlets will attend annual FAB training presented by FF and participate in monthly regional conference calls. FAB staff will provide professional development on market sustainability, program implementation, and relevant outreach and marketing. FF will maintain strategic state and regional partnerships that support partner markets. FAB staff will conduct site visits for training and program consistency. FF will continue to provide resources to ensure program success for active FAB partners Goal 4: Design and implement a statewide communications strategy to engage SNAP households and program operators as well as government, non-profit, and for-profit partners in order to effectively inform and energize FAB stakeholders and ensure the program assists low-income families participating in SNAP access available resources. FF will continue to design and implement seasonal outreach campaigns to actively engagement participation FF will continue to engage stakeholders statewide in an effort to maximize the access to Florida-grown fruits and vegetables for SNAP consumers. FAB staff will communicate with regional and state agencies and community champions and continue to facilitate the Florida Food Access Agency calls on a bi-monthly basis FF will continue to update Community Partner resources and present on FAB at regional, state and national convenings. Goal 5: Evaluate Fresh Access Bucks Progress and Outcomes. FF will continue to collect and monitor all key program requirements via FM Tracks FF will conduct market landscape assessments at all active and potential FAB partner outlet sites. FF will analyze partner data to guide best practices for SNAP participation. FF will garner SNAP feedback from SNAP shoppers via the annual NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and on a Mystery Shopper and Market Compliance survey funded through a 2022 NI Hub Innovation grant on FAB program operations FF will participate in the NTAE monthly Firm Level reporting requirements to evaluate the project's effectiveness in increasing healthy purchases among SNAP participants FF will analyze data collected through the FAB partner annual report and share FAB's impacts with SNAP customers, FAB partners, statewide and national partners and stakeholders ?
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: FF onboarded 9 new farm-direct outlets, exceeding our goal of 5 new outlets. However, for the first time in the history of the program, FAB lost an unprecedented 13 outlets including 6 farmers markets, 1 online market and 6 farmstand/CSA outlets due to rippling impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of fiscal year 1, FF retained a total of 56 active FAB farm-direct outlets. FAB operated under a 2018 FINI extension year until December 14, 2021 and shifted to GusCRR grant funding to support SNAP incentive expenses. As such, FAB's GusCRR funding for SNAP incentives for farm-direct outlets was delayed and operated from December 14, 2021-August 31, 2022. FAB farm-direct partner outlets realized the following achievements: 13830 SNAP and P-EBT transactions processed 3954 new SNAP and P-EBT customers $374,889.62 in FAB redeemed $427,050.99 in SNAP and P-EBT redeemed Goal 2: FFmet our goal of onboarding 3 retail/brick and mortar retail outlets: 1 food bank mobile grocery store, 1 independently owned grocery outlet and 1 community co-operative outlet, for a total of 8 outlets operating in the program at the of the year, losing one outlet because of capacity and financial issues related to the pandemic. FAB successfully identified and collaborated with retailers in underserved and rural communities with high SNAP sales that traditionally lack access to farmers markets and large scale grocery stores. FAB operated under a 2018 FINI extension year until December 14, 2021 then shifted to GusCRR grant funding to support SNAP incentive expenses. As such, FAB's GusCRR funding for SNAP incentives for brick and mortar retail outlets was delayed and operated from January 1, 2022-August 31, 2022. FAB brick and mortar retail partner outlets realized the following achievements: 18047 SNAP transactions processed $39,797.82 in FAB redeemed $523,381.30 in SNAP redeemed Goal 3: FAB staff conducted in-person site visits to all active FAB market outlets and provided one-on-one training and technical assistance and support for program operators' capacity to implement nutrition incentive programs. FF hosted monthly FAB network calls for resiliency and fundraising support and networking, along with virtual sessions for individualized support. FAB's annual 2-day network-wide training took place virtually during FF's FINI extension year. Topics included SNAP and FAB program implementation, marketing and promotion, safety and response for pandemics and other natural disasters, resiliency discussions, resource networking. FF also shared SNAP shopper survey results from the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey to help inform targeted needs of clients participating at active FAB outlets. The second day of the virtual training was devoted to a Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation presented by Bread for the World, a national organization centered around ending hunger. FF's tiered level participation fees encouraged buy-in and sustainability of the incentive and program from network partners -both legacy and new. Discussions around membershiprealized a greater focus by market partner outlets on the need for market-level sustainability planning. FAB member participation fees for GusCRR Y1 totaled $29,241.77toward FF's FINI match calculation across the grant period, and $686,181.53 in in-kind match over the grant period. Ahead of Florida's hurricane season beginning on June 1, FF developed and released the Natural Disaster & Emergency Response toolkit with resources for SNAP customers, farmers, farm-direct and retail partners. These resources were used ahead of and in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole, which both impacted the state of Florida in the fall of 2022. Throughout the course of the grant period, FF will continue to develop and update best practices plans for disaster response and sustainability that can be adapted for distinct market models. Goal 4: FF effectively engaged partner agencies in program improvement and expansion. These points of interaction include: Partnership building on program expansion with senior living facilities - FAB connects Elder Affairs and Council on Aging staff with University of Florida Family Nutrition Program with area farmers on Senior CSA (Farm to Community) projects. Monthly board reports and quarterly meetings with FF's 12 member food banks across the state to report on state of the FAB program and examine areas of support and outreach overlap. Collaboration with FF's food bank network: 2 Florida food banks: Feeding Tampa Bay and Treasure Coast Food Bank to implement FAB retail pilot with mobile grocery units. 3 partner food banks: Feeding Northeast Florida, Second Harvest of Central Florida and Feeding Tampa Bay on GusNIP 2022 grant proposal for the Healthier Together Produce Prescription program.This project is slated to begin in January 2023. Connecting markets and retail outlets directly with FLorida Department of Agriculture's Fresh From Florida (FDACS) program on available resources and logistics of upholding the authenticity of Florida grown labeling at farmers markets. Regular communication and check in calls with Florida Dept. of Health, UF FNP, FDACS, Elder Affairs, Market Outlets, and Department of Children and Families (DCF - Florida's SNAP agency) to ensure project awareness and continued collaboration through bi-monthly Food Access Agency calls, organized and facilitated by FAB staff. FAB staff also maintains a Community Partner and Resource page with an up-to-date resources toolkit including flyers, social media templates, press releases, FAB's annual impact data, FAQs and other resources to create awareness around the FAB program. This included a map of active locations and details of markets that was kept current and shared with partner agencies. FF became an American Heart Association Voices for Healthy Kids co-granter in partnership with Florida Impact to End Hunger in 2021. The goal of this campaign is to advocate for a line item in Florida's SNAP Appropriations budget to provide matching funds for FAB incentives at additional retail outlets across the state. FF provided SNAP Technical training, technical assistance and materials to farmers markets statewide in the SNAP merchant application process, EBT Service provider and equipment considerations, best practices for SNAP acceptance at market and for the implementation of the incentive program FAB. SNAP Tech outreach included virtual and in-person presentations with the American Heart Association, the Florida Department of Health and UF/IFAS Extension's Small Farm Marketing course. Goal 5: FF created and launched market landscape assessments and FAB self-assessments for active FAB partners to complete in order to evaluate consistent data points that help to clarify key components of a market that can successfully implement a SNAP and SNAP incentive program. New this year under the GusCRR grant, FF participated in the NTAE SNAP Participant Level Survey and monthly Firm Level reporting requirements to evaluate the project's effectiveness in increasing healthy purchases among SNAP participants. This data was synthesized and shared with FAB partners and within our 2021 FAB Impact Report. FF also collected an annual survey and an IRB approved annual evaluation from active FAB partners; these findings are still being evaluated and will be included in our 2022 FAB Impact Report. Finally, FF distributed an annual report for all partner outlets that tracks market spending, key partnerships, successes and challenges. Finally, FAB staff monitored and tracked key data points collected by FAB outlet partners on FM Tracks. These data sets were distributed quarterly to partner outlets to track trends and assist with year over year analysis.
Publications
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