GUS SCHUMACHER

Get Healthy!: Innovative Public Market Strategies and Programs to Increase Access

to Fresh, Healthy Food

Vice PresidentWholesome Wave

 Gus Schumacher

9th International Public Markets Conference March 28, 2015

Nutrition Incentives: A Route to Affordable Access

A Broken System

Ø  1 in 3 children is overweight or obese. 1 in 3 adults is obese.

Ø Children are forecasted to live shorter lives than their parents, mostly due to diet-related illness.

Ø  95% of Americans under 50

do not eat recommended amounts of vegetables.

The Problem: Lack of Affordable Food Access

Ø Access to healthy food depends on income level in the U.S.

Ø Over 49 million Americans are food insecure, lacking access to healthy affordable foods.

Ø Over 46 million Americans are enrolled in SNAP, the food stamp program. Half of these are children and a quarter are seniors.

The Solution: Nutrition Incentives

Ø  Increase the buying power of individuals shopping with federal benefits at the farmers market with vouchers and tokens.

Ø  By making fruits and

vegetables affordable, low-income shoppers are able to make healthy food choices for themselves and their families.

Wholesome Wave’s Mission & Vision

Wholesome Wave strives to create a vibrant, just and

sustainable food system by enabling underserved

consumers to make healthier food choices by increasing affordable access to fresh,

local and regional food.

We hope to see a future defined by affordable,

healthy, local food for all.

Wholesome Wave Initiatives: Addressing Affordability and Health

We take a holistic, community based approach to our initiatives, seeking simple solutions to complex problems. We work collaboratively with farmers, farmers markets, community leaders, healthcare providers, nonprofits and government entities.

Sustainable Policy Change

2014 Farm Bill: $100 Million for SNAP Nutrition Incentives (FINI)

 Incentives expand access to affordable, healthful local foods. Incentives increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Incentives enhance local economies, market and farm viability. Incentives deliver consumer impact.

DVCP SNAP Incentives and FVRx Health Incentives:

Ø  Human Health

Ø  Environment

Ø  Communities

Ø  Economies

 

Rebuilding a fractured food system can have considerable impact on:  

Sweeping Impact of Nutrition Incentives