Healthy Food Access

Tevis Foreman, MA, Cincinnati Health Department, Creating Healthy Communities Program

Debbie Serenius, Nutrition Advantage, LLC. Melissa Carter, Ohio State University, South Centers

Julia Hansel, Ohio Department of Health, Creating Healthy Communities Program

Produce Perks Southwest Ohiohttp://www.produceperks.org/

• Produce Perks is a matching incentive program at participating farmers’ markets for fruits & vegetables

• SW OH Geographical scope • (OH) Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont, Montgomery, Greene,

Athens; (KY) Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Grant

• Organizational structure • Cincinnati Health Dept., Creating Healthy Communities Coalition,

Ohio State University Extension, Nutrition Advantage, LLC., Spectrum Labs, OH Dept. of Health• Partners: Wholesome Wave, Interact for Health, Cleveland-Cuyahoga Co.

Produce Perks, C.A.I.N (Churches Active in Northside), Northern Kentucky Health Dept.

Produce PerksSouthwest Ohiohttp://www.produceperks.org/

How it works• $1 for $1 match

• Up to $10/day @ participating market

• Eligibility • Ohio Direction Card

• 2015: 9 farmers’ markets and 1 CSA

Produce PerksSouthwest Ohiohttp://www.produceperks.org/

2014 Pilot year

• 6 farmers’ markets, 1 county

• Total EBT sales: $10,030

• Total PP incentives• redeemed: $5,528• distributed:

$6,469

Building support and capacity

• Market Manager training• Ana Bird, PP Market Manager Coordinator

• Marketing and Promotion • Building relationships, educating

partners• OH JFS, WIC

• Community Stakeholders• Faith-based organizations,

Community Rec. Centers• Cincinnati Public Schools

OPPORTUNITIESAlternative food access points ~ food system enhancement

Produce PerksSouthwest Ohiohttp://www.produceperks.org/

2015 Produce Perks Harvest Box• Our Harvest Cooperative

CSA Program • https://ourharvest.coop/

Healthy Food Retail • Findlay Market’s DIRT• Apple Street Market

Economic support• Local economies

• Local/regional farmers and retailers

State-wide impact• Wholesome Wave-

FINI• Regional food

system enhancement

Produce PerksSouthwest Ohio http://www.produceperks.org/

Scope

2014 Pilot Year

= 6 markets, 1 County

2016 Projection

= 30/40 markets,

11 Counties

Impact

Family of 4 making

$1500 (net income) would

receive $199 in food

assistance.

If same family spent $10/week at a PP market, would have $239 in food assistance.

Increase of 20%

Personal stories have

been priceless…

Statewide Incentive Program

• How’d we get here: • An Incentive Summit was held in the Spring to determine

interest (Many partners and stakeholders involved)• Wholesome Wave received a FINI Grant – a 3 year project• Ohio sub-awardees are:

• OSU Extension Cuyahoga County – Produce Perks• SID Public Services (Pearl Market) – Veggie SNAPS• Cincinnati Health Department for Southwest Ohio – Produce Perks

Statewide Incentive Program

• What is happening now?• 50 + markets are participating this year • Markets will track sales, food traffic, and total value of incentives

reached• Work with Wholesome Wave to develop a statewide network so that

Ohio can apply for the next round of funding

• The future: • Ohio will apply for a FINI grant and provide SNAP

incentives to the entire state.

Creating Healthy Communities

• Funded through the CDC Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant

• Vision: Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice

CHC Funded Counties

Ohio’s Plan to Prevent and Reduce Chronic Disease: 2014-2018

Healthy Food Access• Increasing access to farmers’ markets

• By 2018, Increase the percent of Ohio farmers’ markets that accept nutrition assistance benefits (EBT/SNAP/WIC)

USDA Studies – Cluster Evaluation

• The large majority (more than three-fourths) of SNAP recipients reported that they have increased their purchase of produce because of the incentives and that SNAP incentives were a strong factor in their decision to shop at a farmers’ market.

• SNAP incentives appear to have a positive financial effect on farmers’ market vendors. The majority of vendors (at least 64%) reported that they sell more produce, make more money, and have more customers because of the SNAP incentives.

2015 Farmers’ Market Promotional Opportunity

• CD Plan strategy: Increase awareness of available nutrition assistance benefits• CHC is funding an opportunity to promote markets who

accept EBT/SNAP benefits and those that offer incentives• Mass Media• Print Materials

Contact us:

Tevis Foreman Tevis.Foreman@cincinnati-oh.gov

Debbie Serenius dserenius@gmail.com

Melissa Carter carter.1094@osu.edu

Julia Hansel julia.hansel@odh.ohio.gov