Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for DUFB is SNAP recipients. We used GIS and SNAP household data obtained from DHS to determine which communities to try to offer DUFB. The final store count for 2023 ended up at 36 locations, 23 of which are in USDA strikeforce counties. Changes/Problems:We have had a few setbacks this season that have kept us from meeting all of our goals in season one. Adjustments are being made to overcome those challenges for the 2023 season. Slow approval of survey by IRB, not allowing us to conduct Surveys in the 2022 season. There is finally progress on IRB approval. Working on a plan to capture 200 DUFB customer surveys in 2023 season. IRB was approved and moving forward with planning survey days, June 2023. Incentive day coupons were lost in the mail, limiting the opportunity to conduct incentive days, regrouping to work with a different grocery partner and directly market a survey to SNAP customers registered for their loyalty card program. Finally moving forward with a workable solution on the customer surveys We were able to get over 100 surveys with the initial direct email survey campaign. Would like to start these in May 2024. One of our grocery partners, Harps, has really slipped with this program and are not effectively reaching customers. Worked with Harps to identify better key staff to train on implementing the DUFB program, to no avail. Making some slight adjustments in participating locations due to upgrades in the POS no longer allowing the current incentive program to operate. There seems to be no projected timeline for how this POS upgrade will actually benefit the incentive program. Overall working with this partner becomes more challenging every year. Lost additional locations after the start of the season due to POS issues. One approved location appears to have never promoted or offered the program this season. Additional program locations dropped to zero transactions later in the season. When I enquired with Harps corporate about one location they assured me it was offering the incentive program, however when I went to this location on 10/17/2023 there were no promotional materials in the produce section and it appeared they were not offering the program anymore resulting in zero transactions. Additionally communication via email with my contacts at Harps has come to a complete standstill. A previous Partner, Edwards Food Giant, has expressed a renewed interest in DUFB and a confirmed commitment to making DUFB a success in Arkansas. Launched 6 locations to participate in DUFB. Implementation with the rewards card program has allowed Edwards to succeed with DUFB, where previously using the manual incentive trigger they really struggled. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided the opportunity for continuing education through attending the Rural Grocery Summit. This allowed the opportunity to learn from other communities around the United States that participate in SNAP incentive programs like Double Up Food Bucks. Was not able to travel to any conferences this season but usually attend national conferences around GusNIP and National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition programs. This project has allowed me to utilize some new GIS skills. I think there is additional opportunity for professional development in GIS around this project. Attended the National GusNIP virtual conference June 2023 Completed Annual USDA Civil Rights training June 2023 GusNIP NTAE Econonimc impact webinar How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Participant numbers reported to USDA via monthly firm reports Annual report to USDA Will complete annual DUFB report for 2023 and will be posted on the ArCOP website. Presented results at Annual Arkansas Community Foundation meeting What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next reporting period will see the conclusion of our DUFB season. I anticipate that we will have another record breaking season when the numbers are final. I will also be planning for the 2023 season with a new grocery partner, Edwards Food Giant. Edwards can help us expand into 3 more Strike Force counties as well as additional underserved communities.? DUFB ended October 31st. The next reporting period will be spent closing out locations and collecting documentation and program materials.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The short-term goal of this project is to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables among low-income Arkansans in at-risk communities by doubling the spending power of SNAP participants at participating grocery stores sites in Strikeforce Counties. The project will establish Double Up Food Bucks programs in underserved, SNAP- eligible sites. The 2022 season saw an expansion to a total of 39 Grocery locations offering DUFB with 22 of those locations being in Strike Force Counties. June saw SNAP recipients utilize DUFB 2,111 times at participating grocery stores. July saw SNAP recipients utilize DUFB 2,622 times at participating grocery stores. The projected total DUFB transactions for the second quarter should roughly be 7,355 total. For the 2023 season we are planning to work with 3 grocery partners The 2023 season is projected to work in 23 of Arkansas' 48 Strikeforce counties. The total number of grocery stores participating in Double up Food Bucks for 2023 is projected to be 36 locations. A decision was made to expand the DUFB to a rural community, Wynne, heavily damaged by a recent tornado. There have been 27,045 Double up Food Bucks Transactions reported in the first 180 days. I estimate there are an additional 1000 DUFB transactions still to be reported. We have seen an 80% increase in DUFB transactions from 2022 to 2023. The surge in participation is the result of 2 grocery partners integrating the DUFB program into their store loyalty card program. This allows the program to more consist in applying the discount, overall serving the customer better. Implemented a direct email survey for DUfB participants with Hays Grocery. Last month I estimated the survey response to be 100 when the final count ended up being 94 responses. I think this method will help us gather better survey data related to this program moving forward. We can also implement the survey in the month leading up to DUFB to increase awareness.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Presented DUFB at the Arkansas Community Foundation Annual Meeting
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Developed interactive map of DUFB locations as well as static maps to highlight the reach of the DUFB program in Arkansas. https://arkansasobesity.org/double-up-food-bucks/
Map was published to the Arkansas Double up Food Bucks page.
Viewed 4872 times in the first 180 days
Average 812 views per month
The map was viewed a lot more last season but we have high participation this season.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Promoted DUFB via social media to launch the program for the 2023 season (May-October)
https://www.facebook.com/ARFarmersMkt?mibextid=LQQJ4d
https://www.facebook.com/arkansasobesity?mibextid=LQQJ4d
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Target counties for the DUFB project are selected based on the following criteria: • The grocery store sites participate in the SNAP program • Strong capacity in leadership to manage DUFB at the stores • The county has increased need as in, a StrikeForce county, a "red" county (lowest life expectancy), high poverty rates, food deserts and high rate of SNAP eligible recipients. There are 41 grocery sites targeted between to grocery store chains Hays and Harps. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We are posting on our website and social media outlets to let our communities know upcomming locations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will start offering DUFB in these grocery stores.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
ArCOP has begun training the 41 Harps and Hays locations to begin DUFB in May.
Publications
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