COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF FARMERS MARKETS

COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF FARMERS MARKETS Kimberly LaMendola Susan Avery Southern Tier West’s 23rd Annual Local Government Conference May 11, 2016 Hough...
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COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF FARMERS MARKETS Kimberly LaMendola

Susan Avery Southern Tier West’s 23rd Annual Local Government Conference May 11, 2016

Houghton College

Information used in the preparation of this presentation was derived from Southern Tier West’s food system development work and program activities in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties of New York State and the following resources: Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board

STW Regional Farmers Market Fresh Local WNY

Farmers Market Federation of NY Farmers Market Coalition

USDA

Farmers Markets Growth New York State = approx. 600 farmers markets

Farmers Markets Mean Business

What is a farmers market? • Historical

• Cultural • Values

What is a farmers market? •

New York State Dept. of Agriculture and Markets: •

§ 259. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and declares that farmers' markets provide a vital and highly effective marketing mechanism for thousands of New York farmers, improve the access of consumers and wholesalers to New York farm products, and contribute to the economic revitalization of the areas in which the markets are located. The legislature further declares that farmers' markets provide consumers with access to a wide range of high quality, nutritious, farm fresh and processed New York state agricultural and food products; facilitate expanded wholesale distribution of New York state farm products to retail stores, restaurants, institutions and other wholesale food buyers; provide new and expanded farm and city jobs in agricultural production, marketing, and sales, and in market facilities development and operation; promote consumer awareness of New York state agriculture and agricultural products; and foster economic and social interaction between urban and rural residents of the state. It is therefore the intent of the legislature and the purpose of this article to encourage farmers' markets in the state by providing state assistance to municipalities and public and private agencies interested in developing new markets or expanding or reconstructing existing farm market operations.

What is a farmers market? •

§ 260. Definitions. As used in this article: 1. "Farmers' market" shall mean any building, structure or place, the property of a municipal corporation or under lease to or in possession of a public or private agency, individual or business used or intended to be used by two or more producers for the direct sale of a diversity of farm and food products, as defined in subdivision four of this section, from producers to consumers and food buyers. Such market may also include facilities for the packing, shipping, first-instance processing or storage of farm and food products, and shall include all equipment used or intended to be used in connection with such facilities. Such market may also include other businesses which reasonably serve the public or make the market more convenient, efficient, profitable or successful, including, but not limited to, food service, baking, and nonfood retailing.

What is a farmers market? Producer "Producer" shall mean any person or persons who grow, produce, or cause to be grown or produced any farm or food products in New York state.

Why Farmers Markets? •

Why for farmers & other vendors



Why for consumers?



Why for community?



Why for environment?

Economic Impacts With nearly 600 farmers markets in New York State alone, the impacts are appreciable and decentralized to local communities •

Direct revenue impacts • Cash in pockets in farmers & vendors • Cash for farmers market entity • Cost savings to consumers

Economic Impacts •

Indirect revenue impacts • Sales tax (where applicable) • Multiplier effect throughout community • Workforce • Spillover spending on market days • Stabilize business economy •



Farms that sell D2C demonstrate longer business viability than those only selling into commodity markets or hybrid model

One link in the food value supply chain

Community Development Impacts •

Farmers markets are civic and social gathering places



Farmers markets are indicators of livable communities



Farmers markets are leveraged for other investments



Community feels sense of “ownership” of market



Some farmers markets are tourist destinations/stand-alone attractions



Farmers markets are the original business incubator

Environmental Impacts •

The United States loses an acre of farmland per minute to development pressures



Vibrant local food economy means more viable land in agricultural production



More operating farms = more opportunity for emerging farmers to keep land in production



The closer the food to the consumer = reduced need for chemical applications



Food miles – average retail produce travels over 1,100 miles to your table; 95% of fruit consumed in the United States is imported



Farmers markets and D2C market channels greatly reduce carbon footprint

Community Health Access to Fresh, Nutritious Food •

Social health and physical health



Fresh food = more nutrients retained



Tastings, demonstrations, recipes = motivation to purchase more or new types of items



Farmers markets are often in walkable/bike-friendly/motorized chair zones



Farmers markets now provide income-supported households with an alternative source for purchases of fresh vegetables, fruit, and other local food products and many now accept a variety of income-assistance benefits such as SNAP.

Community Health: SNAP

Community Health: SNAP •

$19.4 million in SNAP benefits were redeemed at farmers markets across the US in 2015, a fourfold increase since 2009. This dramatic increase can be attributed to markets investing in innovative outreach, education, and incentive programs, and support from federal, state, and local government.



$19.4 million is a number to be proud of, however, it represents only a small fraction of total SNAP sales. Nevertheless, the rapid growth of SNAP usage at farmers markets in recent years demonstrates that even a small increase in the percent of SNAP benefits spent at farmers markets can make a real impact—more fresh, nutritious foods going to families who need it, and millions of dollars in revenue going directly to farmers. (source Farmers Market Coalition)

Bringing SNAP & FMNP to Markets

• Many SNAP shoppers are not aware of the existence of farmers markets, or that they accept EBT cards. • Other barriers still exist for SNAP participants to shop at farmers markets, including cultural or language obstacles, inconvenient hours, product mix, transportation, and the perception that market prices are higher than in supermarkets. • Incentive programs such as the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and the Senior FMNP have been critical to the success of operating markets in low-income communities. • Bonus programs, such as DoubleUp Food Bucks, have shown great promise in effectively drawing SNAP shoppers to farmers markets. • Farmers markets can improve access to healthy food in communities that are underserved by retail grocers. Conclusion: the ability of SNAP recipients to use their benefits at farmers markets is a fundamental public health issue. (Real Food, Real Choices June 2010)

# of FMNP Checks Issued

Check Value

Total Value in Dollars FMNP

# Households Receiving FMNP Checks

2015 FMNP Redemption Rate

$ FMNP Redeemed

Unspent FMNP $

# of SR FMNP Checks Issued

Check Value Each

Total Value in Dollars SR FMNP

# Households Receiving SR FMNP Checks

2015 SR FMNP Redemption Rate

$ SR FMNP Redeemed

Unspent SR FMNP $

Allegany

3750

$4

$15,000

625

51.09%

$7,664

$7,337

3000

$4

$12,000

600

80.76%

$9,691

$2,309

Cattaraugus

6600

$4

$26,400

1100

52.68%

$13,908

$12,492

3300

$4

$13,200

660

85.18%

$11,244

$1,956

Chautauqua 1

25980

$4

$103,920

4330

76.17%

$79,156

$24,764

3800

$4

$15,200

760

85.31%

$12,967

$2,233

Chautauqua 2

10878

$4

$43,512

1813

51.47%

$22,396

$21,116

$123,123

$65,709

Totals:

$188,832

n/a

n/a

n/a $40,400

n/a

n/a

n/a $33,902

• 17 Farmers Markets • 16 Accept FMNP 7868 households in the 3 counties participate in WIC FMNP (7% total households) 2020 households participate in the SR FMNP program (2% total households)

n/a $6,498

2013

COUNTY/PLACE

Locality SNAP Market

Total Households

SNAP Households

% SNAP Households

Combined SNAP Households in Locality

% of Total SNAP Households in County

% of Total Households in Locality

Allegany County

N/A

18786

3180

16.93%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Aldred Town

YES

782

58

7.42%

85

3%

7%

Alfred Village

YES

423

27

6.38%

Belmont

YES

451

106

23.50%

106

3%

23%

Angelica Village

NO

391

67

17.14%

167

5%

17%

Angelica Town

NO

600

100

16.67% 26%

Wellsville

NO

3288

868

26.40%

868

27%

Cattaraugus County

N/A

32246

4968

15.41%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Franklinville Town

YES

1240

259

20.89%

419

8%

21%

Franklinville Village

YES

741

160

21.59%

Olean City

YES

6247

1330

21.29%

1485

30%

19%

Olean Town

YES

828

119

14.37%

Allegany Village

YES

727

36

4.95%

Salamanca City

YES

2478

664

26.80%

703

14%

26%

Salamanca Town

YES

206

39

18.93%

Allegany Reservation

YES

387

96

24.81%

Dayton Town South Dayton Village

NO NO

778 305

80 47

10.28% 15.41%

127

3%

12%

Chautauqua County

N/A

54863

9702

17.68%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fredonia Village

YES

3926

321

8.18%

321

3%

8%

Jamestown City

YES

13351

4277

32.04%

4277

44%

32%

Dunkirk City

YES

5608

1361

24.27%

1455

15%

24%

Dunkirk Town

YES

516

94

18.22%

Falconer Village

NO

1102

143

12.98%

143

2%

13%

Lakewood Village

NO

1309

110

8.40%

110

1%

8%

Sherman Town

NO

590

104

17.63%

104

1%

18% 12%

Westfield Town

NO

2114

245

11.59%

245

3%

Erie County

N/A

380152

59952

15.77%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Cattaraugus Res. Erie Co.

NO

648

128

19.75%

157

N/A

17%

Cattaraugus Res. Chautauqua Co.

NO

15

2

13.33%

Cattaraugus Res. Cattaraugus Co.

NO

106

27

25.47%

• 17 Farmers Markets • 8 Accept SNAP EBT • 7 Participate in SNAP DoubleUp Food Bucks 18,007 households in the 3 counties participate in SNAP (17% Total Households)

10,868 households have a SNAP farmers market within 5 miles of their home

The Future of Farmers Markets

Challenges •

Attracting diversity of vendors with diverse products = customers driving the demand



Farmers market saturation point



Increased competition from retail, big box, “green washing,” and other emerging market channels



Seasonality of products – demand is year ‘round



Managers or quasi-managers not professionalized market operations



Farmers are aging out; new farmers not keeping pace with demand



Farmers market sales may have reached an apex



Food safety regulations

Resources for Consumers

Resources for Communities, Markets & Vendors

Questions?

Contact Kimberly LaMendola Regional Development Coordinator Food System Projects Manager [email protected] 716-945-5301 x2211

www.FreshLocalWNY.org

Susan Avery Local Food Projects Specialist [email protected] 716-945-5301 x2206

Facebook and Twitter: Fresh Local WNY

Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board

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