AGGIES DO FRESH AND LOCAL NUTRITION INCENTIVE PILOT PROGRAM

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1029344
• Grant No.: 2022-70415-38566
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $98,948.00
• Proposal No.: 2022-06973
• Project Start Date: Sep 15, 2022
• Project End Date: Sep 14, 2025
• Grant Year: 2022
• Program Code: [FPP]- FINI Pilot Project

Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV
1601 EAST MARKET STREET
GREENSBORO,NC 27411

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
TheAggies DO Fresh and Local pilot project is designed to decrease food insecurity and increase fruit and vegetableconsumption among SNAP recipients in eastern Greensboro, Guilford County, NC. The project goals are (1) to recruit, retain, and engage 300-400 SNAP recipients residing in eastern Greensboro via partnerships with community-based organizations, (2) to provide biweekly deliveries of CSA boxes containing locally sourced, fresh vegetables and fruits to participants via partnership with Sandhills AGInnovation Center by offering matching nutrition incentives, (3) to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables from our participants via partnership with SNAP-ED at NC A&T CooperativeExtension with nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations, and (4) to generate knowledge on implementation, participant retention and engagement, community outreach, and community impact of nutrition incentive programs.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
704	5010	1010	50%
703	6010	3070	50%

Knowledge Area
703 - Nutrition Education and Behavior; 704 - Nutrition and Hunger in the Population;

Subject Of Investigation
6010 - Individuals; 5010 - Food;

Field Of Science
3070 - Psychology; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;

Keywords

nc; food insecurity

snap/ebt; financial incentive; fresh fruits & vegetables; csa box; greensboro

Goals / Objectives
In 2019, 32% of the 1,417,440 NC residents are estimated to have a household income below 200% of the poverty threshold, hence SNAP eligible. In Guilford County, where the pilot project is located, 77,897 individuals are receiving SNAP benefits.Further, many individuals and families are impacted by the compounding effects of poverty and accessibility to food, particularly healthy foodchoices. As such, we propose the NC A&T Aggies DO Fresh and Local pilot project o decrease food insecurity and increase F&Vs consumption among SNAP recipients in eastern Greensboro, Guilford County, NC. The project goals are (1) to recruit, retain, and engage 300-400SNAP recipients residing in eastern Greensboro via partnerships with community-based organizations, (2) to provide biweekly deliveries of CSA boxes containing locally sourced, fresh vegetables and fruits to participants via partnership with Sandhills AGInnovation Center by offering matching nutrition incentives, (3) to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables from our participants via partnership with SNAP-ED at NC A&T Corporate Extension with nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations, and (4) to generate knowledge on implementation, participant retention and engagement, community outreach, and community impact of nutrition incentive programs.Our project goals are consistent with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Strategic Goal #4 -to increase food security through assistance and access to nutritious and affordable food. We will conduct both a process and an outcome evaluation using a mixed-methods, quasi-experiemental approach to identify facilitators and challenges to the implmentation and effectiveness of nutrition incentive programs. In 2019, 32% of the 1,417,440 NC residents are estimated to have a household income below 200% of the poverty threshold, hence SNAP eligible. In Guilford County, where the pilot project is located, 77,897 individuals are receiving SNAP benefits.Further, many individuals and families are impacted by the compounding effects of poverty and accessibility to food, particularly healthy foodchoices. As such, we propose the NC A&T Aggies DO Fresh and Local pilot project o decrease food insecurity and increase F&Vs consumption among SNAP recipients in eastern Greensboro, Guilford County, NC. The project goals are (1) to recruit, retain, and engage 300-400SNAP recipients residing in eastern Greensboro via partnerships with community-based organizations, (2) to provide biweekly deliveries of CSA boxes containing locally sourced, fresh vegetables and fruits to participants via partnership with Sandhills AGInnovation Center by offering matching nutrition incentives, (3) to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables from our participants via partnership with SNAP-ED at NC A&T Corporate Extension with nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations, and (4) to generate knowledge on implementation, participant retention and engagement, community outreach, and community impact of nutrition incentive programs.Our project goals are consistent with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Strategic Goal #4 -to increase food security through assistance and access to nutritious and affordable food. We will conduct both a process and an outcome evaluation using a mixed-methods, quasi-experiemental approach to identify facilitators and challenges to the implmentation and effectiveness of nutrition incentive programs. ?In 2019, 32% of the 1,417,440 NC residents are estimated to have a household income below 200% of the poverty threshold, hence SNAP eligible. In Guilford County, where the pilot project is located, 77,897 individuals are receiving SNAP benefits. Further, many individuals and families are impacted by the compounding effects of poverty and accessibility to food, particularly healthy food choices. As such, we propose the NC A&T Aggies DO Fresh and Local pilot project o decrease food insecurity and increase F&Vs consumption among SNAP recipients in eastern Greensboro, Guilford County, NC. The project goals are (1) to recruit, retain, and engage 300-400 SNAP recipients residing in eastern Greensboro via partnerships with community-based organizations, (2) to provide biweekly deliveries of CSA boxes containing locally sourced, fresh vegetables and fruits to participants via partnership with Sandhills AGInnovation Center by offering matching nutrition incentives, (3) to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables from our participants via partnership with SNAP-ED at NC A&T Corporate Extension with nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations, and (4) to generate knowledge on implementation, participant retention and engagement, community outreach, and community impact of nutrition incentive programs. Our project goals are consistent with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Strategic Goal #4 - to increase food security through assistance and access to nutritious and affordable food. We will conduct both a process and an outcome evaluation using a mixed-methods, quasiexperiemental approach to identify facilitators and challenges to the implmentation and effectiveness of nutrition incentive programs.

Project Methods
Participants will receive a biweekly delivery of a fruit and vegetable-enriched CSA box valued at either $20 or $30 based on the willingness of participants to pay, with an immediate 50% discount ($10 or $15, respectively) at the point of sale. Participants will be allowed to personalize their CSA box content based on dietary and cultural considerations. All study participants will be invited to utilize the biweekly Pop-Up Farmers Market held in the parking lot of the N.C. A&T Student Health Center. Pre-ordered CSA boxes will be available for pick-up on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the N.C. A&T Student Health Center parking lot during the Pop-Up Farmers Market. Alternative CSA box delivery will be provided for SNAP recipients who are elderly, have mobility limitations, have limited access to transportation, or have work schedule conflicts. These design elements of the intervention are developed based on previous findings on experiences of CSA farmers and members (Pitts et al, 2022) as well as characteristics of SNAP recipients (Vargo et al., 2022).Upon enrollment in the project, SNAP recipients may elect to receive delivery of the fruit and vegetable-enriched CSA boxes for a minimum of four months or a maximum of six months. Study participants will self-select whether to engage in a series of nutrition education activities and whether to be organized into supportive dyads with peers. These options in participants' access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables that best fits their resources (amount of SNAP benefits; $20 or $30 box), their availability (work schedule, transportation access; nutrition education option), their family structure (seniors, parent with children), their social network (willingness to engage in education activities and join peer network), and changes in priorities (limited or extended participation; four or six months; January - June 2023 or March - August 2023) will enable us to examine predictors of retention over time in nutrition incentive programs among SNAP recipients. We will use a logistic regression model estimated with generalized estimation equations to predict monthly retention status (remain vs. leave) with the self-selected groupings and demographic characteristics (Berkowitz et al., 2021).?

Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, Aggies Do Fresh and Local Farmers market efforts were focused on reaching low-income households in Guilford County, North Carolina, with a particular emphasis on SNAP recipients living in food deserts in eastern Greensboro. This area is characterized by high levels of food insecurity, with a significant portion of the population facing substantial barriers to accessing healthy food options. The target audience for the Fresh and Local program included residents who live in census tracts classified as food deserts, where more than 33% of the population resides over a mile from a large grocery store or supermarket. In Guilford County alone, there are over 45,000 individuals in this situation, many of whom also live in poverty, with 20% of the population in these tracts earning incomes below the poverty level. Compounding these challenges, 42% of households in these areas do not have access to a vehicle, making it even more difficult to obtain fresh, nutritious food. Despite the fact that 84% of convenience stores in these food deserts accept SNAP/EBT benefits, only a small fraction (12%) offer fresh vegetables, limiting the food choices available to these residents. The NC A&T Aggies DO Fresh and Local pilot project was designed to directly address these issues by improving access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among SNAP recipients. By partnering with community-based organizations deeply rooted in the eastern Greensboro community--such as Mustard Seed Community Health, St. Philips AME Zion Church, North Carolina African Services Coalition, and the NC A&T Student Health Center--we were able to engage with the target audience effectively and deliver meaningful interventions. One of the core components of our program was the distribution of customizable community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes filled with locally grown and regionally produced fruits and vegetables. These boxes were made more affordable through the use of nutrition incentives (NIs) that subsidized their cost for SNAP recipients. Through these targeted efforts, we were able to reach a population that is often marginalized and underserved, providing them with the resources to access healthier food and the education necessary to sustain these changes over the long term. Changes/Problems:During this reporting period, we encountered significant challenges that necessitated major changes in our approach to the Aggies Do Fresh and Local Initiative. The most pressing issue was the difficulty in securing an EBT-certified farmer to participate in the program. Despite extensive outreach efforts, we could not find a suitable farming partner who met the EBT certification requirements for our program. This obstacle has significantly delayed the implementation of key components of the project, including the planned Farmers Markets. As a result, we have requested an extension of the GUSNIP Grant timeline to September 14, 2025. This extension is crucial to allow us the necessary time to continue our search for an EBT-certified farmer, enhance our outreach strategies, and build stronger community partnerships. The extension will also ensure that the program can be fully implemented with the intended impact on our target population and that all grant funds are utilized effectively in alignment with the program's goals. The Fresh and Local team remains committed to successfully executing the Aggies Do Fresh and Local Initiative, and we are confident that the revised timeline and approach will enable us to overcome these challenges and achieve the program's objectives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Fresh and Local project offered valuable training and professional development opportunities, particularly in supporting farmers through the challenging EBT certification process. The project team assisted six farmers, guiding them through the complexities of certification, including training on necessary technology, helping with the submission of required documentation, and troubleshooting issues such as repeated requests for paperwork by the system. This experience underscored the need to revamp the EBT certification system to make it more accessible for farmers, ensuring they can more easily become certified to meet the needs of SNAP participants. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Aggies Do Fresh and Local team is requesting a no-cost extension. During the next reporting period, we plan to take the following actions to accomplish the goals of the Aggies Do Fresh and Local Initiative: Recruit and Secure EBT-Certified Farming Partners (August - October): We will intensify our efforts to identify and engage potential farming partners who are interested in participating in the program. This includes providing targeted support and resources to help selected farmers obtain EBT certification, ensuring they can accept SNAP benefits and meet the needs of our target population. Student Recruitment and Training (November - December): We will recruit students to assist with the operations of the Fresh and Local Market. These students will receive comprehensive training on their roles and responsibilities within the market, preparing them to contribute effectively to the program. Partner Outreach and Marketing (December - February): We will focus on building and strengthening relationships with community partners, including local organizations, businesses, and stakeholders. Additionally, we will develop and implement marketing strategies to raise awareness about the program and the market among target audiences, ensuring broad community engagement. Launch and Operate the Fresh and Local Farmers Market (March - July): We will launch and manage the Fresh and Local Farmers Market, ensuring it is well-attended and successfully meets the community's needs. This includes providing ongoing support to farmers and partners to ensure smooth operations and addressing any emerging challenges promptly. Data Collection and Program Evaluation (March - July): We will begin collecting data and feedback from market participants and other stakeholders to evaluate the program's effectiveness. This data will be crucial for informing future planning and demonstrating the impact of the program. These planned activities are aligned with our request for an extension of the GUSNIP Grant timeline to September 14, 2025, which is essential for the successful execution of the program. The additional time will enable us to fully implement our strategies, build stronger community partnerships, and ensure that our target audience can fully benefit from the services provided by the Aggies Do Fresh and Local Initiative.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During this programming year, the Fresh and Local program faced significant challenges, including the difficulty of finding a certified EBT farmer and a drought that impacted both the availability of crops and the donations offered by farmers. Despite these obstacles, the NC A&T Aggies DO Fresh and Local pilot project achieved several key accomplishments: Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement: The project successfully recruited and actively engaged SNAP recipients in eastern Greensboro. Strong marketing and partnerships with community-based organizations like Mustard Seed Community Health, St. Philips AME Zion Church, North Carolina African Services Coalition, and the NC A&T Student Health Center were essential in maintaining participant involvement and ensuring the program's reach within the community. Pop-Up Farmers Markets: The project organized two pop-up Farmers Markets with high foot traffic, demonstrating the community's demand for affordable, fresh produce. These markets were crucial in addressing food insecurity and provided valuable insights into the need for more consistent access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Overall, the NC A&T Aggies DO Fresh and Local pilot project successfully highlighted the community's high demand for affordable fresh produce. On the days when the market had to be canceled due to the lack of a certified farmer, the program ensured that participants were directed to other resources to help stretch their food dollars, demonstrating the high need for affordable produce.

Publications