Creating Access for Low-Income, Low-Access Users

NOTHING TO DISCLOSE

Hub City Farmers’ Market

Mission: We work to increase the supply, demand, and access to healthy, local food in Spartanburg County.

Hub City Farmers’ Market

We meet our mission in several ways:

1) Running farmers markets2) Operating a Mobile Market3) Creating business

opportunities for food-based entrepreneurs

4) Advocacy for LI-LA populations

HCFM

A Story of Creating Access• Started farmers market

2006• Began accepting SNAP

2009• SC’s first Mobile Market

2010• “Double Snap” program

2013• Northside Harvest Park

2014

HCFM

Pop Quiz:How many households are on SNAP monthly in Spartanburg? What is the dollar value?

The Opportunity

Spartanburg County• 14,000 SNAP households a month at any given time, $61M annually• Direct farm and farmers markets sales accounted for $11k in 2013• Farmers markets offer more linear feet of healthy food than any other type of market (big box grocer, corner store, C-store)• Money spent at farmers markets go back to small businesses, which reinvest their money locally

SNAP Penetration

Double SNAP/Healthy Bucks

“Double SNAP”UWP-funded program designed to encourage SNAP use at HCFM

Matches SNAP on a sliding scaleFunded through 2017

Healthy BucksDSS-funded program to encourage SNAP use at farm stands and farmers markets

Provides $10 for fruits & veggies with a $5 SNAP purchase

HCFM

Mobile Market

Intended to sell fresh food in food deserts, but that was unsustainable

Now hits high traffic areas like office parks, community centers, churches, schools, etc.

Mobile Market

Using high-traffic areas allows more access for everyone. It reduces one of the biggest barriers for most Low-Access users: transportation

The Mobile Market tries to offer healthy options & convenience

Mobile Market

2012: 35 stops2013: 62 stops2014: 370 stops2015: 400-500 stops

Offers local, fresh food, and matches SNAP like at the market

Mobile Market

• While the MM does provide access, for LI-LA users, it best serves as an advertisement for our stationary markets

• Our Saturday market offers better selection, more produce, and far more protein

Hub City Farmers’ Market

We make our markets family-friendly to encourage more SNAP families to attend:1) Free live music every Saturday2) Kids activities every weekend3) Active Living/Cooking Demos almost

weekly4) FREE NPO Booth weekly

Hub City Farmers’ Market

NEXT STEPS:

• Northside Harvest Park as an event venue

• More significant work with schools• SNAP SNAP SNAP• Using the market as a community

resource

Hub City Farmers’ Market

We base all our decisions on the following questions:

1) Is it good for our customers?2) Is it good for us in 5 years?3) Does it improve access for LI-

LA users?