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
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The closer the food to the consumer = reduced need for chemical applications
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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
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Tastings, demonstrations, recipes = motivation to purchase more or new types of items
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Farmers markets are often in walkable/bike-friendly/motorized chair zones
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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
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Farmers market saturation point
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Increased competition from retail, big box, “green washing,” and other emerging market channels
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Seasonality of products – demand is year ‘round
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Managers or quasi-managers not professionalized market operations
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Farmers are aging out; new farmers not keeping pace with demand
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Farmers market sales may have reached an apex
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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