Getting Started With Healthy Food Access Policies Presented by Heather Wooten, MCP Vice President of Programs

AGENDA Session 1: Understanding healthy food access policies Session 2: Creating a food access strategy

Food Access Physical “Can I get to the store?” Economic “Can I afford it?” Cultural “Is it what I want to buy?” Knowledge “Do I know how to prepare it?”

FINDAFFORD CHOOSE USE Food Access Physical “Can I get to the store?” Economic “Can I afford it?” Cultural “Is it what I want to buy?” Knowledge “Do I know how to prepare it?”

SUPPLY DEMAND Food Access Physical “Can I get to the store?” Economic “Can I afford it?” Cultural “Is it what I want to buy?” Knowledge “Do I know how to prepare it?”

“Siting markets in 'food deserts' no quick cure for obesity, study says” ,0, story#ixzz2sOvbOJPC Conducted 6 months after new grocery store opened in low-income Philadelphia neighborhood Residents were not eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, nor were they less likely to be obese than control neighborhood Residents perceived: Access to fruits and vegetables to be greater + Cost of produce to have declined Positive trends in fruit & veg consumption among ~half of residents who said they were shopping at the new store.

What’s the food access challenge facing your community? Your story!

market forces public policy “food landscape” +=

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY POLICY?

A policy is: a statement in writing binding setting out a general approach to be applied broadly

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY POLICY? Local ordinances Zoning language Resolutions Standards School/agency policy language Contracts/agreements State/federal laws Organization/company policies

A program: is a system implemented by gov’t or non-profit provides a service to a particular group of people WHAT DO WE MEAN BY PROGRAM?

What policies affect healthy food access, anyway?

What policies affect healthy food access, anyway? Land Use Transportation Economic Development Procurement Education

Policy: Incentivize grocery development, e.g., “Fresh Food Financing” Policy: SNAP/Food Stamps, Living Wage, Workforce Development Policy: WIC Program allows purchase of culturally appropriate foods Policy: Home Ec/Food Literacy in Schools Food Access Physical “Can I get to the store?” Economic “Can I afford it?” Cultural “Is it what I want to buy?” Knowledge “Do I know how to prepare it?”

What are other examples of food access policies? Your story!

Learning about retail strategies Working w/ one or two stores Operating a healthy food retailer program Developing an incentive policy Implementing retail policies PROGRAMPOLICY

Rural Action, Athens, OH

Certified Farmers’ Markets (Ordinance Amending Ch. 20, 2012) The market must operate a redemption program for, CalFresh Electronic Benefits Transfers, as well as federal Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons (both through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants mad Children as well as the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program). SAN JOSE, CA

Eat Fresh, Live Well Toledo, OH

Program Steps Community Assessment

BeforeAfter Increase 1-2 new fruit + veg options

MoU with the Store Owner/Manager

Marketing/Branding

Kick-off event

Follow-Up Assessment

Funding Sources Creating Healthy Communities Grant - Ohio Department of Health Live Well Greater Toledo – funded through United Way of Greater Toledo Toledo-Lucas County Health Department WIC Stop & Go store chain

Outcomes for Produce sales using WIC vouchers doubled Increased other WIC voucher redemption Increased varieties of produce sold Store owners good return on investment Customers indicated this a benefit to neighborhood Top Sellers: Bananas and apples

Learning about retail strategies Working w/ one or two stores Operating a healthy food retailer program Developing an incentive policy Implementing policy PROGRAMPOLICY Advantages of programs: Understand the retail environment Build relationships Pilot ideas Work with small number of stores

Learning about retail strategies Working w/ one or two stores Operating a healthy food retailer program Developing an incentive policy Implementing policy PROGRAMPOLICY Advantages of policies: Require fewer resources Provide greater reach Establish a norm about food retailers

Learning about retail strategies Working w/ one or two stores Operating a healthy food retailer program Developing an incentive policy Implementing policy PROGRAMPOLICY Where are you? Where do you want to go?

Healthy Food Retail Programs changelabsolutions.org

Healthy Food Retail Policies changelabsolutions.org

2014 NPLAN Retail Webinar Series Sept. 23:Healthy Food Retail in Rural Communities Oct. 21:Addressing the Distribution Challenge Nov. 18:Policy Options for Healthy Food Retail April 22:Soup to Nuts: Designing a Healthy Food Retail Program May 20:Going for Green: Finding Federal Funding March 18:Healthy Food Retail 101: Strategies for Changing the Food Retail Environment

Call us! ( is fine, too!) Rio Holaday How do I get started? Can you recommend an assessment tool? Is there a model policy? Give me an example of… Is this legal?

Getting Started With Healthy Food Access Policies Presented by Heather Wooten, MCP Vice President of Programs

AGENDA Session 1: Understanding healthy food access policies Session 2: Creating a food access strategy

Personality Quiz!

Scoring Review your answers and assign point for every question you answered “a”...2 points for every question you answered “b”...3 points for every question you answered “c”...0 points for every question you answered “d”

Food Retail Personality Types If you scored 0-6, you are a Produce Pioneer You may be just starting out with food retail work. You might consider a small-scale pilot program. Focus on building relationships with local elected officials, economic development partners, and community-based organizations.

Food Retail Personality Types If you scored 6-12, you are a Fresh Hero You may be ready to launch a healthy corner store certification program. You have many of the components in place. Focus on building strong relationships with retailers to learn about their needs.

Food Retail Personality Types If you scored 12-18, you are a Groovy Grocer You have many of the ingredients for a successful retail campaign. Strong local partners, fundraising capacity, and elected official support are critical to a large scale effort to increase access to healthy, affordable food. If your community lacks full-service grocery stores, you may wish to leverage that support to attract new food retail. A healthy store certification program could be a great way to improve selection at existing retailers – and may be the first step toward jurisdiction-wide policy change.

Food Access Physical “Can I get to the store?” Economic “Can I afford it?” Cultural “Is it what I want to buy?” Knowledge “Do I know how to prepare it?”

FINDAFFORD CHOOSE USE Food Access Physical “Can I get to the store?” Economic “Can I afford it?” Cultural “Is it what I want to buy?” Knowledge “Do I know how to prepare it?”

Learning about retail strategies Working w/ one or two stores Operating a healthy food retailer program Developing an incentive policy Implementing policies PROGRAMPOLICY

OVERVIEW: How can policies target food access?

Let’s make a plan!

Define your goals and plan What does the retail environment currently look like? What are the food access needs of the community? Who is already working on food systems? Food retail? What mix of strategies will you need to serve the community’s food access needs?

Creative Commons Flickr/KarenApricot No access?

Some access?

Enough access?

No access Some access Enough access Food environment?

Build it Goal? No access Some access Enough access Food environment?

Build it Fix it Goal? No access Some access Enough access Food environment?

Build it Fix it Support it Goal? Love it! No access Some access Enough access Food environment?

Build it Fix it Connect it! Goal? Love it! No access Some access Enough access Food environment?

How do we build it?

Policy: Local resolution supporting efforts to attract a grocery store

How do we fix it?

Program: Work with stores to stock healthy products.

How do we support it?

How do we love it? Funding: Purchasing food with/from local growers.

Roles of Government in Food Access Create a policyProvide fundingImplement a program

Healthy Selection, Baldwin Park, CA

Create a Policy Establish rules Streamline/improve rules Express support for idea

Provide funding

Implement a program

Define your goals and plan What does the retail environment currently look like? What are the food access needs of the community? Who is already working on food systems? Food retail? What mix of strategies will you need to serve the community’s food access needs?

Learning about retail strategies Working w/ one or two stores Operating a healthy food retailer program Developing an incentive policy Implementing policies PROGRAMPOLICY

“Ideal” Food Access Environment “Ideal” Food Access Environment START Working w/ one or two stores Learning about retail strategies Operating a healthy food retailer program Developing an incentive policy Implementing retailer licensing ? How will you get there?

Healthy Food Retail Programs changelabsolutions.org

Healthy Food Retail Policies changelabsolutions.org

2014 NPLAN Retail Webinar Series Sept. 23:Healthy Food Retail in Rural Communities Oct. 21:Addressing the Distribution Challenge Nov. 18:Policy Options for Healthy Food Retail April 22:Soup to Nuts: Designing a Healthy Food Retail Program May 20:Going for Green: Finding Federal Funding March 18:Healthy Food Retail 101: Strategies for Changing the Food Retail Environment

Call us! ( is fine, too!) Rio Holaday How do I get started? Can you recommend an assessment tool? Is there a model policy? Give me an example of… Is this legal?

DISCLAIMER The information provided in this discussion is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. ChangeLab Solutions does not enter into attorney-client relationships. ChangeLab Solutions is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that educates and informs the public through objective, non- partisan analysis, study, and/or research. The primary purpose of this discussion is to address legal and/or policy options to improve public health. There is no intent to reflect a view on specific legislation. © 2014 ChangeLab Solutions

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