State Policies Supporting SNAP in Farmers Markets

May 20, 2011 Portland, OR

Drew Love, Research & Education InternFarmers Market Coalition

Stacy Miller, Executive DirectorFarmers Market Coalition

Suzanne Briggs, Technical Assistance ManagerCo-Author, Real Food, Real ChoiceFarmers Market Coalition

Karen Kinney, Executive DirectorWashington State Farmers Market Coalition

Deborah Yashar, Food Systems Program ManagerAgriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)

Introductions

Why Farmers Markets?

Farmers become price makers versus price takers

Define a sense of place; Build community

Offer living examples of vibrant local economies

Bridge urban and rural dividesChildren learn the value of healthy food Strengthens community ties via cross-

cutting Relationships

Prevalence of Farmers Markets

SNAP Benefits ($1,000) in 2008

Online at www.farmersmarketcoalition.org

Strategic plan: 2,000 market authorized; $7.2 million in benefits redeemed by 2015

Retailer locator: www.snapretailerlocator.comBlanket waver for scrip and incentives: Feb 20101,611 FM SNAP authorized retailers: Sept 2010FNS begins research on farmers markets’

relationship with nutrition programs: Nov 2010$4 million requested in 2011 and 2012 budgets

SNAP Leadership at USDA

USDA Strategic Planhttp://www.ocfo.usda.gov/usdasp/sp2010/sp2010.pdf

Farmers Market SNAP Sales Soar in 2010http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/snap-sales-soar-2010

FMC Explores Implications of IRS Electronic Payment Reporting Requirementhttp://farmersmarketcoalition.org/6050w-reporting-delay

Real Food Real Choice: Connecting SNAP Recipients with Farmers Markets http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/real-food-real-choice

FNS Funds Research to Better Understand Farmers Marketshttp://farmersmarketcoalition.org/fns-funds-research

Letter to Congress RE: $4 millionhttp://farmersmarketcoalition.org/joinus/policy

References and More Information

Promising Programs & Policies for SNAP in Farmers Markets

Suzanne Briggs, collaboration

May 20, 2011 Portland, OR

Iowa – In 2005, Iowa DHS funded EBT programs for farmers in part by a regular 50/50 match on SNAP administration.

New York – In 2002 provided wireless machines to farmers. Starting in 2005 began developing a central-terminal system at the farmers market level.

Two Different FM EBT Strategies

Michigan MassachusettsPennsylvania Georgia Minnesota Wisconsin

Promising Programs & Partnerships

Massachusetts$50K grant program via DTA and Dept. of

Ag., with input from Mass Federation of FMs

CaliforniaSpecialty crop block grants used to expand

SNAP at farmers marketsNew York

Close collaboration between FMFNY, NY Dept of Ag., and OTDA

Promising Programs & Partnerships: Examples

WashingtonSB 6483, the Local Farms, Healthy Kids Act put wireless POS into 20 markets

IllinoisHB 4756, the Farmers Market Technology Improvement Program

CaliforniaA.B. 537 requires markets to allow a qualified organization to operate SNAP

Promising State Policies

Community Partners

Types of Community Partners

Businesses and merchants GovernmentSchools and educational institutions Non-profits and faith-based

organizations Health and social service

organizations Market volunteers

Farmers Market

Volunteers

Washington State SB 6483 Local Food, Healthy Kids

Karen Kinney King County Soil & Water Conservation

Washington State Farmers Market Association

Eases state and school procurement restrictions to better enable school districts and state entities to choose local

Establishes a Farm to School Program that will facilitate the purchasing of Washington-grow farm products by schools

Creates the Washington Grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program

SB 6483

OutcomesPromotes school garden

Establishes a Farmers Market Technology Program

Establishes three Farm to Food Bank pilot programs

Expands and increases funding for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Funded at $1,490,000

 

Why is it so darn cool?Magic Moment in time!

Precedent Setter!First multi-pronged food system legislation in WA state.Coalition Builder!  Created new strategic     relationships between      environmentalists and      sustainable ag supporters.

Bringing People and Ideas… Together!Strong existing network of sustainable ag and food system organizations

Able to fast-track a good idea

Right people at the right time

Ag people learned how the environmental community works together to promote agenda

Helped mainstream the idea of spending money on local farmers to promote big policy issues

Champions in House and Senate    Key emphasis on diversity, so it

wasn’t seen as just a KC\Seattle interest.

House Champion: Eric Pettigrew-Represents mostdiverse zip code in USA

Senate Champion: Brian Hatfield-Previous work experience with WEC.

Bill Passes!

House: 95-1Senate: 44-0

What's Happening Now?Coalition is still working well due to strong personal connections. 

New common ground issues continue to arise:• Formed Good Food Coalition• Ongoing commitment to all projects resulting

from the legislation• Worked on State Food Policy Council proposal

– 2009• Responded to state budget woes in 2011

• Protect F2S and WSDA budget• Protect future of Farmers Market Nutrition

Program 

Farmers Market Tech ProgramThe Basics:    1 Year    $50,000    Report to Legislature in     November, 2009

State contracted with Washington State Farmers MarketAssociation (WSFMA)

Stakeholders formed advisoryCommittee to oversee anddirect project

WSFMA hired the contractor

 

Hurdles to Capacity BuildingStaffing, funding, and infrastructural challengesDifficult to find streamlined payment methods

VictoriesCreated turnkey project

20 Farmers Markets, serving a wide variety of customers and communities, were able to accept EBT Cards.

Significant increase in farmers market sales

Mini-grant model works well for pilot projects

Broader recognition for WSFMA

Great opportunity for Advisory Committee

 

Washington: USDA EBT Data2008 2009 2010

# of Active SNAP FMs

17 35 41

Total FM SNAP $

$34,026 $142,759 $235,807

EBT Wins! Baby Eats Strawberry!1st Year:Total Card Sales: $302,417EBT: $49,349Credit: $157,448 Debit: $93,140

2nd YearTotal Card Sales: $425,013 (40% increase)EBT: $68,674 (increase 39%)Credit: $231,466 (47%)Debit: $125,633 (increase 35%)

Watching baby eat farmers market strawberry?: Priceless

Relationship Building    Strengthened Institutional Partnerships

◦WSU◦King County Agriculture Program◦State Agencies

Expanded Partnerships◦Anti-Hunger◦Nutrition◦Local Health Agencies◦Other States◦Farmers Market Coalition

Lessons Learned

Building partnerships between multiple local agencies builds capacity for both organizations. 

Relationship development takes time, and successful relationships depend upon the personalities involved. 

Be realistic about time

Consider organization’s long term commitment to a project, before adopting it

 

California Assembly Bill 537 EBT in Farmers Markets

Deborah Yashar, ALBA

Assembly Bill 537

Making federal food assistance (SNAP) benefits universally accepted as a legitimate form of payment in farmers markets.

 

“An interested collective group or association of produce sellers that is FNS authorized and in the market may initiate and operate an EBT acceptance system on behalf of its members.”

How?

Coalition Building

Coalition building with Assembly member Juan Arambula of Fresno, and supporting stakeholders.

Key partnerships with organizers/lobbyists in the state capitol.

As more groups became involved the bill changed.Final version of the bill was less robust than original which required every market in CA to accept EBT by year 2012.

Debate and CompromiseHaving a healthy debate over difference of opinions can turn the process into one that is unifying rather than controlling or exclusionary

As a result of the compromising, the one-time opponents became advocates of the bill and testified their support in public

Capacity building to empower new leaders

Another outcome of policy-making is the capacity-building among participants that get involved in the political process

Knowledge and experience in policy-making is passed on by mentors and new leaders emerge

Make ProgressPut the issue on the radar of policy-makers and farmers markets

→ Bill provided an incentive for market managers to set up the system in

their area.

→ After the bill passed, several markets in California decided to implement EBT.

Today all markets in Salinas accept EBT!

11 markets in Monterey County as opposed to 6 prior.

Debate+Compromise+Allies+Change= Success!

Questions?