Supporting Local Food SystemsSupporting Local Food Systemsbyby

Improving Access to Healthy FoodImproving Access to Healthy Food

Risa WaldoksThe Food Trust

October 28th, 2014

Video: Everyone Deserves AccessVideo: Everyone Deserves Access

Overview of PresentationOverview of Presentation

The Food Trust’s Comprehensive Approach

Farmers Markets and Farm to School

Small Store Programs: Corner and Convenience Stores

Healthy Food Financing

Healthy Food Incentives

The Farm Bill: FINI

Sharing successes from your community: access and local

food systems in Idaho

04/21/23 4

““Ensuring that everyone has Ensuring that everyone has accessaccess

to nutritious, affordable to nutritious, affordable food and information to food and information to make healthy decisions”make healthy decisions”

The Food Trust’s Comprehensive

Approach•Farmers markets•Nutrition education•Farm to School

•Healthy corner stores•Night market•Healthy Food

Financing

Data Source: Robbins, et al. Prevalence, Disparities, and Trends in Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Students in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, School District, 2006–2010. Prev Chronic Dis, Sept 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/12_0118.htm

21.5%21.3%

20.6% 20.5%

20%

21%

22%

23%

24%

25%

2006–2007 2007–2008 2008–2009 2009–2010

Decline in Obesity Among Philadelphia School Children, 2006-2010 (p < 0.001)

““Something’s Happening Here”Something’s Happening Here”

Farmers MarketsFarmers Markets

Farm to SchoolFarm to SchoolThe Food Trust is the Regional Lead Agency for the

National Farm to School Network

Access to Healthy Food: Access to Healthy Food: A Review of the ResearchA Review of the Research

Available at: http://www.thefoodtrust.org/pdf/GroceryGap.pdf

• Accessing healthy food is a challenge for many Americans – particularly in low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and rural areas.

• Better access corresponds with healthier eating and lower risk for obesity and other diet-related diseases.

• Healthy food retail creates jobs and helps to revitalize communities.

Mapping the Problem Mapping the Problem

Empowering StakeholdersEmpowering Stakeholders

Identifying BarriersIdentifying Barriers

Why aren’t

retailers locating

in these areas?

• Financing

• Land assembly

• Regulations

• Workforce

• Security

• Transportation

• Supply Chain

•Public-private partnership

•FAO and CDFI

•Flexibility

•Clear implementation: case by case eligibility analysis

PA Fresh Food Financing InitiativePA Fresh Food Financing Initiative

Lancaster Central MarketLancaster Central Market

ImpactImpact

88 projects

5,000 jobs

$165 million in total investment 400,000 people with improved food access

Replicable Model

Healthy Food Financing Program ModelHealthy Food Financing Program Model

Policy recommendations to support Policy recommendations to support local food systems: New York HFHClocal food systems: New York HFHC

Types of ProjectsTypes of ProjectsSupermarkets

Corner stores

Co-ops

Farmers Markets

Mobile Markets

http://galleries.buffalonews.com/photo.php?gname=gallery_1337734775.txt&item=8

Example: Growing Green Mobile Market

Buffalo, New York

Example: Circle FoodsExample: Circle FoodsNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana

National HFFINational HFFI

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative is The Healthy Food Financing Initiative is supporting local food systems through supporting local food systems through

innovative projects all around the innovative projects all around the United StatesUnited States

HFFI Project: Fields Foods Grocery HFFI Project: Fields Foods Grocery

& St. Louis Food Hub& St. Louis Food Hub

St. Louis, Missouri100 new jobs $15 million in

project costs29,000 sq. ft. food

hub facility37,000 sq. ft.

grocery store

04/21/23 28

HFFI Project: HFFI Project: Northern Girl Food HubNorthern Girl Food Hub

Limestone & Van Buren, Maine

12 local farms supported

New 5,000 sq. ft. food hub facility

300 lbs. of carrot sticks for student lunches per week!

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HFFI Project: HFFI Project: South Memphis Farmers Market South Memphis Farmers Market

Memphis, Tennessee Small grocery store & permanent

outdoor farmers’ market facility Education & community kitchen 40 new jobs

04/21/23 30

Increasing healthy food access Increasing healthy food access at small corner andat small corner and convenience stores convenience stores

Philadelphia Healthy Corner Philadelphia Healthy Corner Store Initiative Store Initiative

Phases & ActivitiesPhases & Activities

Healthy Food Incentives: Healthy Food Incentives: Access and affordability Access and affordability

Healthy Food Incentives: Healthy Food Incentives: Access and affordability Access and affordability

• First statewide incentive program

• 150+ sites

• permission from USDA to pilot in 3 grocery stores in Detroit

“Moving Double Up into groceries across the state means we will reach more low-income families and help more Michigan farmers sell more produce to their neighbors.”

- Oran Hesterman (President and CEO, Fair Food Network)

The The FarmFarm Bill Bill

Healthy Food Financing through USDA:$125 million authorized

Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Programnew competitive grant program to provide incentives

to SNAP participants to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables

Resource: Resource: Healthy Food Access Web PortalHealthy Food Access Web Portal

www.healthyfoodaccess.org

DiscussionDiscussion

How do food access and local food systems

connect in Idaho?

Are similar models underway in your state?

Would any of these approaches work here?

Thank you!

Risa Waldoksrwaldoks@thefoodtrust.org

215-575-0444 x5177

www.thefoodtrust.orgwww.healthyfoodaccess.org