healthy food access: creating a welcoming food co-op, nfca fall gathering, 9.7.13
DESCRIPTION
The roots of the co-operative movement are in food security. Faye Conte from Hunger Free Vermont presents the challenges around access to healthy, affordable food in New England, and how can our food co-ops be a part of the solution, inviting more people to be a part of our movement?TRANSCRIPT
Fall Gathering
7th September 2013
Shelburne Falls, MA
Welcome to Co-‐op Valley!
Food Co-‐ops & Healthy Food Access
Food Security in New England Between 2007 and 2011, participation in food stamps (SNAP) increased by more than 50% in every state in New England:
STATE Participation 2010 Growth 2010-2012 CT 10% 55%
MA 11% 86%
NH 8% 88%
RI 12% 136%
VT 13% 78%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, "SNAP: Average Monthly Participation (Persons) by Fiscal Year," http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ offsite.
Some Questions
• Is there a role for food co-ops in addressing food insecurity?
• Do we have an obligation or legacy to consider in this challenge?
• Is there an opportunity for food co-ops in addressing food insecurity?
• How do we go about this? Who are our partners?
The International Year of Co-‐ops
Recognizing the contribution of of co-ops to: • Poverty reduction
• Employment generation
• Social integration
• Fairness & globalization • Conflict resolution
• Food security
Co-‐operative Origins What was the motivation of the Rochdale Pioneers, who codified the values and principles on which the co-operative movement has based since 1844?
We know it today as food security. Dame Pauline Green, President International Co-operative Alliance
The Rochdale Pioneers
The Co-operative Model • Mutual Self-Help
• Local Ownership
• Democratic Control
• Affordable Membership • Healthy, Basic Food • Co-operative Economy
Co-‐operative Values
• Self-help
• Self-responsibility
• Democracy
• Equality
• Equity
• Solidarity
• Honesty
• Openness
• Social
responsibility
• Caring for others
Food Co-‐ops & Healthy Food Access
NFCA Goals • Increase access to healthy food and co-
op membership for low-income individuals
• Support peer to peer collaboration among member co-ops on programs
• Raise profile of co-ops as a tool for increasing food security in our region
Network Collaboration Seeking Out Partners • Co-op Fund of New England • New England Farmers Union • Hunger Free Vermont
Grant Support • Co-operative Foundation • Newman’s Own • Jane’s Trust
Progress
• Resource development: timeline, financial planning, Toolbox
• Peer Collaboration • New Partners
• Seeding national dialog • Sharing our story
http://nfca.coop/healthyfoodaccess
“A Place at the Table” • National awareness
campaign
• Six NFCA co-ops participating
• Coordinated screenings, community dialogs
• Raise profile of co-ops as leaders and community partners
Healthy Food Access: Creating a Welcoming
Food Co-op
Presented by Faye Conte, 3SquaresVT Advocate Neighboring Food Co-op Association Fall Gathering
September 7, 2013
Who is a co-op shopper?
What does hunger look like?
• Living on inexpensive foods that lack critical nutrients
• Bare cupboards at the end of the month
• Parents skimping on food for the benefit of their kids
Food Security
Access to enough food for a healthy life, including:
• Ready availability for nutritionally adequate safe foods
• Assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (e.g. not from emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing,
or other coping strategies)
Food Insecurity
Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally
adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially
acceptable ways.
The lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial
resources.
Who is hungry?
Food Insecurity • United States: 14.5% (10.68 million) • Northeast: 11.9% (1.59 million)
• CT: 13.4% • MA: 11.4% • NH: 9.9% • VT: 12.7%
Food Insecurity with Hunger • United States: 5.7% (6.95 million) • Northeast: 4.6% (997,000)
• CT: 4.9% • MA 4.2% • NH: 4.3% • VT: 5.6%
The Burden of Hunger
• Individual health, development, and ability to thrive.
• Family stability and long-term success.
• Economic and social cost to the community.
Why do we have hunger? A family of 4 in rural VT with both parents working full time at minimum wage:
Monthly Income: $2,910 Monthly Expenses: $5,046 (VT Joint Fiscal Office)
Common Tax Credits: $450 Federal Nutrition Benefits: $467
3SquaresVT $306 WIC $56 School Meals $41 Child Care Meals (CACFP)$64
At the end of the month, even with aid from the federal nutrition programs, this Vermont family still has a monthly deficit of $1,669 ANNUAL DEFICIT: $14,628
The cycle of food insecurity & malnutrition
Lethargy Increased illness Learning deficits
Behavior problems
POVERTY
SCHOOL FAILURE
Decreased food intake Narrowed food choices Decrease in vitamins
and minerals
MALNUTRITION
Reduced Earning Potential
Exclusion from the knowledge community
Breaking the Cycle: SNAP • A program by many names:
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • Food Stamps • EBT • 3SquaresVT in Vermont
• A federal nutrition program of the USDA that gives eligible households money each month to spend on food wherever EBT is accepted, including farmers’ markets.
• Participation in May 2013: • CT: 426,863 (11.94%) • MA: 885,701 (13.53%) • NH: 116,319 (8.84%) • VT: 100,607 (16.08%)
Breaking the Cycle: WIC
• WIC is a federal nutrition program of the USDA for low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5.
• Similar income eligibility limits as SNAP.
• Operates differently in each state, but all include spending vouchers or money on WIC-approved foods in stores.
• Participation: – CT: 56,584 – MA: 122,568 – NH: 16,299 – VT: 15,471
Why does this matter to your co-op?
• Co-ops provide important food access points
• Opportunity for increased sales & membership
• Increased food security and food access often fits into a co-op’s Ends Statements and mission
What can your co-op do?
Financial Incentives • Food For All (FFA) • BASICS
Welcome the entire community!
Food For All • Universal (excluding alcohol) discount on groceries for low-income
shoppers • Eligibility options • Accessible ownership options • Community partnerships for outreach and technical assistance • Monitoring & tracking
Potential & Considerations Challenges: • Membership • Legal considerations • Staff capacity • Financial impact on store • Public perception of co-ops
BASICS
• Lowering price points on everyday staples
• Similar to supermarkets’ own brands
Potential & Considerations Challenges: • Financial impact on store • Public perception of co-ops • Staff training & signage
Welcome the entire community
• Accessible membership • Customer education on
through signage, classes, and tours.
• Variety of product types • Staff training and awareness • Inclusive marketing
Special Considerations
• Staying true to the cooperative spirit and store values.
• What’s good for your business?
• Ends Statements
With intention & ingenuity, your co-op can be your entire community’s grocery store!
Questions, Feedback, Ideas
Thanks to Franklin Community Co-‐op and these supporters of our gathering…
I < Our Co-ops!The Neighboring Food Co-op Association // www.nfca.coop