Hartford Food System Farmers Market Success in a Low Income - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Hartford Food System Farmers Market Success in a Low Income Neighborhood

Hartford Food System  Founded by national food security expert Mark Winne and others in response to City of Hartford concerns about food price and availability for poorer residents  35 year dedication to long-term, sustainable responses to healthy food access in Hartford  Programs and policy work that are root cause oriented  Helped establish the first farmers market in Hartford in 1978

Mission To fight hunger and improve nutrition for disadvantaged members of the community through sustainable, non-emergency strategies

Vision  Be deeply engaged in the food problems affecting ordinary Hartford residents  Be known as a creative and competent food security organization  Be willing to chart new directions to achieve the mission

Guiding Principles  Increase access for low-income people to normal food outlets  Deepen the connection between consumers and agricultural production  Advance public policies that improve the affordability and quality of food

About Hartford  Diverse population  Hispanic and Black > 77%  Growing immigrant populations include Burmese, Cambodian, and Somali  Hartford County is much whiter (> 70% Caucasian)  Economically Challenged  Median Income is less than half of the county overall  Unemployment 15-17%  Almost 50% of children live in poverty

About Hartford  Health Challenged  High rates of diet-related diseases  High rates of childhood obesity (37% of pre-schoolers overweight or obese)  High rates of urban stress and violence  Healthy Food Challenged  City ranks last among 169 CT towns for population at risk of food insecurity  35% of households with no private transportation  1 supermarket and many smaller stores, often with questionable quality  Improving farmers market access and growing interest in better food options

Programs

Grow Hartford

Grow Hartford Youth

Other Programs Healthy Food Retailers North Hartford Community Kitchen Food Policy Commission

A progressive City administration created the FarmMarket at the Old State House with its opening day on July 19, 1978. Hartford Food System took over the operation of the FarmMarkets in 1979, as well as the expansion of 4 farmers markets in other neighborhoods.

Hartford Farmers Markets in 2007

North End Farmers Market  Community driven  Farmer involvement  Site selection process  Ongoing support

So, How Well Does it Work?

Market Day

Publicity

Special Events

Entertainment

Materials, Giveaways, and Banners

Incentive Benefits! W holesom e W ave Partnership! Farm ers Market Nutrition Benefits

Results  5 increasingly successful market seasons  Average daily and overall attendance almost doubled  Excellent farmer retention and satisfaction  Patron satisfaction very high

Results  New farmers market consortium  More city markets and more that are EBT certified  Special cross-market events  Increased use of SNAP & WIC  FMPP Grant awards  More to come!

Questions?