For Immediate Release

Columbus-area Farmers’ Markets Receive $37,000 through USDA’s Food Insecurity

Nutrition Incentive Grant Program as part of Wholesome Wave’s $3.77 Million Grant

(Columbus, OH) Today, Veggie SNAPS, a program in several Columbus-area Farmers’ Markets, celebrates USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement of $31.5 million granted through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Program (FINI). National nonprofit Wholesome Wave received a $3.77 million FINI grant, of which “Veggie SNAPS,” as a sub-grantee, will receive $37,000 over three years through this award, which will be used to support increased access to fruits and vegetables for the food insecure of central Ohio, while also benefitting small and mid-sized farmers in the region. “Veggie SNAPS is another important tool to help bring fresh, nutritious food to some of our most vulnerable residents, through a growing network of farmers’ markets in central Ohio,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa L. Long. “Good government means striving to be innovative in our approach to addressing real and pressing community needs. Franklin County is now the fastest growing county in the state of Ohio. We are a thriving community, however, poverty, including the inability to access affordable and healthy foods remains a challenge many in our community still face. I am so appreciative that our federal partners recognize the impactful results a creative program like Veggie SNAPS can have in the lives of families and residents in neighborhoods throughout America," added Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown. Veggie SNAPS, founded in 2014 with support from the Franklin County Commissioners and the City of Columbus, is committed to increasing access to the healthier food at local farmers’ markets in central Ohio. The grant issued to SID Public Services Association will increase affordable access to fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP consumers in participating markets throughout Columbus, while also supporting local agriculture. “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Wholesome Wave to strengthen Veggie SNAPS’ impact,” says program manager, Amy Bodiker. “This federal award allows us not only to increase the number of customers we can serve, but also to solidify our partnerships with similar programs around the state.” “Given our unique investment in mitigating issues of food access in our urban context, we are elated that this award has been received,” says Laquore Meadows, OSUE Franklin County Extension Director. “We look forward to working alongside our partner organizations to move this work forward and to most importantly ensure that the residents of Franklin County benefit from this opportunity.” Veggie SNAPS will be a sub-grantee of Wholesome Wave’s $3.77 million grant, which was obtained from the USDA to support their national network of nutrition incentive partners. Veggie SNAPS is one of 32 community-based organizations that will join Wholesome Wave in this Large-Scale FINI Project. Wholesome Wave’s network is a robust community of innovation and

MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Bodiker 614.284.5438 amycbodiker@gmail.com

 

learning, linking incentive programs through uniform data collection and evaluation to support the expansion and adoption of incentives through policy. Wholesome Wave’s project is one of many that received support as part of the total $31.5 million granted by USDA in this cycle. With the award from Wholesome Wave, Veggie SNAPS will increase the program to nine farmers’ markets in 2015 and work collaboratively with other communities to pilot a unified statewide program. “We are thrilled to be working with such a diverse and competent group of incentive operators across the nation. This network brings together organizations ranging from a flourishing farmers market group to a large scale nonprofit, capitalizing on the grassroots expertise of community leaders, while also building regional and national impact that allows us to enact the kind of large-scale policy change we see in legislation like FINI,” says Wholesome Wave founder and CEO, Michel Nischan.

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Veggie SNAPS is a program developed by six central Ohio farmers' markets in 2014 who collectively work together to increase access to healthy foods among vulnerable populations in central Ohio. The program provides up to $10 match per visit to SNAP customers who shop at seasonal farmers’ markets organized in Bexley and Clintonville and at Columbus Public Health, Franklin Park Conservatory, Franklinton Gardens, and Pearl Alley. Each market is accessible by bus routes and represents a diversity of neighborhoods in or adjacent to food desserts in central Ohio. The financial incentive provided by Veggie SNAPS allows low-income customers the opportunity to purchase the nutritious, locally-grown ingredients that had previously been cost-prohibitive. Additionally, increased sales to new customers make both growers and farmers' markets more economically viable. Based on the successful models of similar programs in the Cleveland area, Michigan, Connecticut and California, VeggieSNAPs is generously supported by the City of Columbus and the Franklin County Commissioners. Wholesome Wave is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strives to create a vibrant, just and sustainable food system. By making fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables affordable and available, we enable underserved consumers to make healthier food choices. Our innovative initiatives are improving health outcomes among low-income families, generating additional revenue for small and mid-sized farm businesses and bolstering local and regional economies. Our initiatives are implemented nationwide in collaboration with community-based partners at farmers markets, community health centers, hospital systems, food hubs, and retail outlets. Each year, our initiatives reach more than 50,000 underserved consumers and their families, as well as thousands of farmers. To learn more about Wholesome Wave visit www.wholesomewave.org or call 203-226-1112.