1. State Policies Supporting SNAP in Farmers Markets May 20, 2011 Portland, OR

2. Introductions Drew Love, Research & Education Intern Farmers Market Coalition Stacy Miller, Executive Director Farmers Market Coalition Suzanne Briggs, Technical Assistance Manager Co-Author, Real Food, Real Choice Farmers Market Coalition Karen Kinney, Executive Director Washington State Farmers Market Coalition Deborah Yashar, Food Systems Program Manager Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)

3. 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 divides Children learn the value of healthy food Strengthens community ties via cross-cutting Relationships

4. Prevalenceof Farmers Markets

5. SNAP Benefits ($1,000) in 2008

6. Online at www.farmersmarketcoalition.org

11. Retailer locator: www.snapretailerlocator.com

12. Blanket waver for scrip and incentives: Feb 2010

13. 1,611 FM SNAP authorized retailers: Sept 2010

14. FNS begins research on farmers markets’ relationship with nutrition programs: Nov 2010

15. $4 million requested in 2011 and 2012 budgets SNAP Leadership at USDA

17. Promising Programs & Policies for SNAP in Farmers MarketsSuzanne Briggs, collaboration May 20, 2011 Portland, OR

18. Two Different FM EBT Strategies Iowa – In 2005, Iowa DHS funded EBT programs for farmersin 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.

21. Promising Programs & Partnerships Michigan Massachusetts Pennsylvania Georgia Minnesota Wisconsin

22. Promising Programs & Partnerships: Examples Massachusetts $50K grant program via DTA and Dept. of Ag., with input from Mass Federation of FMs California Specialty crop block grants used to expand SNAP at farmers markets New York Close collaboration between FMFNY, NY Dept of Ag., and OTDA

23. Promising State Policies Washington SB 6483, the Local Farms, Healthy Kids Act put wireless POS into 20 markets Illinois HB 4756, the Farmers Market Technology Improvement Program California A.B. 537 requires markets to allow a qualified organization to operate SNAP

24. Community Partners

25. Types of Community Partners Businesses and merchants Government Schools and educational institutions Non-profits and faith-based organizations Health and social service organizations Market volunteers

27. Farmers Market Volunteers

28. Washington State SB 6483 Local Food, Healthy KidsKaren Kinney King County Soil & Water ConservationWashington State Farmers Market Association

29. SB 6483 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

30. Outcomes Promotes 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

31. 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.

32. 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

33. Champions in House and Senate Key emphasis on diversity, so it wasn’t seen as just a KCeattle interest. House Champion: Eric Pettigrew-Represents most diverse zip code in USA Senate Champion: Brian Hatfield-Previous work experience with WEC. Bill Passes! House: 95-1 Senate: 44-0

35. Ongoing commitment to all projects resulting from the legislation

36. Worked on State Food Policy Council proposal – 2009

37. Responded to state budget woes in 2011

38. Protect F2S and WSDA budget

40. Hurdles to Capacity Building Staffing, funding, and infrastructural challenges Difficult to find streamlined payment methods

41. Victories Created 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

42. Washington: USDA EBT Data

43. EBT Wins! Baby Eats Strawberry! 1st Year: Total Card Sales: $302,417 EBT: $49,349 Credit: $157,448 Debit: $93,140 2nd Year Total 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. California Assembly Bill 537 EBT in Farmers MarketsDeborah Yashar, ALBA

47. Assembly Bill 537 Making federal food assistance (SNAP) benefits universally accepted as a legitimate form of payment in farmers markets. How? “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.”

48. 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.

49. Debate and Compromise Having 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

50. 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

51. Make Progress Put 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.

52. Debate+Compromise+Allies+Change= Success! Today all markets in Salinas accept EBT! 11 markets in Monterey County as opposed to 6 prior.

53. Questions?