Growing Your Grassroots: Employing Local Community Leaders for SNAP & Incentive Outreach

Presenter: Food Navigator and Fresh Link Ambassador programs

Interested in engaging community members with outreach, promotion, and education for your market’s nutrition incentive program? Experts will present on two different community outreach programs: FreshLink Ambassadors and Food Navigators that employ community members to spread the word about how to access fresh, healthy, locally grown food. 

FreshLink

FreshLink Ambassadors is a peer-to-peer marketing and outreach approach to spread the word about farmers’ markets to support the use of SNAP and nutrition incentives. Developed and evaluated through community-engaged research at Case Western Reserve University, Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods in Cleveland, Ohio, the FreshLink Ambassador approach leverages social connections, trustworthiness, and capacity of community champions who raise awareness about and build social connections to farmers’ markets located in their neighborhoods. The FreshLink Ambassador Technical Assistance team now seeks to share learnings with individuals, organizations and communities interested in implementing this approach in their local context.  

Participants in this webinar can expect the following:

• Learn more about the core components of the FreshLink Ambassador approach.
• Understand the impact FreshLink Ambassadors has on individuals, communities, and farmers’ markets.
• Hear testimonials from a former FreshLink Ambassador and Farmers’ Market Manager about their experiences and the benefits of this peer-to-peer outreach approach.

Food Navigators

The Michigan Farmers Market Association in collaboration with the Michigan Fitness Foundation created the Food Navigator program which operates in farmers markets that accept food assistance benefits and are located in underserved communities. Food Navigators work to increase access to fresh, affordable food and help shoppers eat healthy.

Click the image below for recording of the webinar.

Presentations and FAQ can be found here:

• FMC and Hub Introduction
• Main Presentation- Food Navigator
• Main Presentation- Freshlink Ambassador
• Q&A

Metrics Presentation

Metrics Presentation Materials

2018 Metrics Poster Contest Winner, Hood River Farmers Market

Hood River Farmers Market’s 2018 Poster was the winning entry for the Metrics category.

Agricultural Institute of Marin 2018 Report Infographic

2018 Annual Report Infographic Summary

“What is a Farmers Market?” Rack Card

Rack card created by Farmers Market Coalition in collaboration with Virginia Community Food Connections that explains generally what a farmers market is to help make customers who are less familiar with the culture feel comfortable going to shop at one for the first time.

2018 FMC Annual Report

Louisville Farmers Market Association 2018 Local Food Guide

An annual guide released by the Louisville Farmers Market Association

Farmers Markets of Minneapolis Collaborative 2017 Report

2017 data and outcomes from the Farmers Markets of Minneapolis Collaborative.

Now That’s the Power of Produce: Using Children’s Programming at Farmers Markets to Increase Exposure to Healthy Foods

Through a three-year Jefferson Public Citizens project, a team of undergraduate and graduate
students created a multi-phase project around the Charlottesville City Market. In 2012,
the team created the Power of Produce (POP) Club based off a program in Oregon City. The
project’s main goals were to initiate action-oriented research, to provide better access to
healthy foods, and to expose children to fruits and vegetables in a variety of ways. Based on
local success, the POP Club now seeks to create a national movement dedicated to empowering
children to make healthy food choices through programming at farmers markets. The POP Club
provides farmers and markets with the opportunity to build a lasting and unique relationship
with future generations of local food supporters.

ASAPs Farmers Market Tour Guide

Offering a tour of your market helps new shoppers feel comfortable and welcome. In helping people to become familiar with the market, they are far more likely to become regular shoppers. The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project put together a guide on offering market tours, downloadable at the link below

Click Here