Advancing Healthy Food Access Through Regional Collaboration

• Bonnie Hudspeth Neighboring Food Co-op Association• Micha Josephy Cooperative Fund of New England• Faye Conte Hunger Free Vermont

Overview• Introductions• Problem: Food Access in New England• Context & Overview of HFA Program & Work• Food For All Program• Strategic Partnerships• Impact• Replicating the Model: Engaging USDA• What’s Next?• Questions

The Problem: Food Access in New England

Who is Food Insecure?• It only takes one emergency to become food

insecure• Some households more likely to struggle:

– rural households– households with children– households headed by single parents (especially women)– women living alone– Black- and Hispanic-headed households

Why Are People Food Insecure?• Low wages & high unemployment• Household financial crisis• Lack of affordable housing• High energy costs• Transportation barriers• Lack of financial flexibility to capitalize on deals• High cost of nutritious food• Consolidation and relocation of grocery stores• Limited sources of healthy, affordable food

Lessons from Food Co-op History• Industrial Revolution• Concentration of economic

control, unemployment, poverty

• Rochdale Pioneers: Economic democracy, food security

• Vision: Co-op EconomyWhat can our co-ops learn from this history?

The Co-op Advantage in Food Security• Democratic ownership & control• Focus on meeting needs before profit• Develop local skills & assets• Ability to assemble limited resources• Difficult to move or buy-out• Separate community wealth from markets• Mobilize stakeholder loyalty

------------------------------------------------------------------Leaders in HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS

Collaboration to Address a Need• NFCA & CFNE identify opportunity• Food co-ops identify community need• Survey & Case studies: interns from UMASS Co-op

Certificate & Bridgewater State University • Response: Partnerships for program development• Additional partners • Focus: “Food For All” & “Basics”• NFCA facilitates monthly calls to support progress• Learning & resources housed on NFCA’s website

Strategic Partnerships• NFCA – promoting relevance of member co-ops to food security and supporting

success in a competitive environment• CFNE – lending institution helping co-ops address needs of low income communities• Hunger Free Vermont – developing sustainable models for addressing food

security• Creative Partnerships – Ex: New England Farmers Union: supporting programs that

make local, family farmer grown food more accessible• Student Partners – UMASS Economics Department / Certificate Program:

opportunities for hands-on co-op experience for students• Community Service Providers & Food Security Organizations – mission based

partnerships to help address community food security (statewide anti-hunger orgs, local food pantries, etc.)

Resources Created• Planning Timeline• Toolbox • Audit/Program Evaluations• Sample Brochures & Promo• Food For All:

– Structure Document– Checklist for Planning– Community Partner Verification

Food For All Program• Income-based discount

– SNAP/ WIC/ SSI/ Partner Verification• Generally tied to membership• Confidential

– Documentation sign off, not stored– POS ties discount to member #

• Annual recertification• Program is accessible & inclusive• Partnerships are essential

Strategic PartnershipsLocal

Service Agencies Other

Co-ops/ Associat’ns

Anti-Hunger

Advocates

Local SNAP & WIC Offices

Membership

Board

Staff

GM

Participants

Membership

Board

Staff

GM Anti-Hunger

Advocates

Local Service

Agencies

Big PictureStrategic Leadership Both Accountability

Other Co-ops/

Associat’ns

Local SNAP & WIC Offices

Participants

Membership

Board

Staff

GM

Other Co-ops/

Associat’ns

Preparation

Participants

Local Service

Agencies

Anti-Hunger

Advocates

Local SNAP & WIC Offices

Training & Both Program Design Shared Learning

Launch

Membership

Board

Staff

GM

Participants

Local Service

Agencies

Anti-Hunger

Advocates

Other Co-ops/

Associat’ns

Local SNAP & WIC Offices

Implementation Both Promotion

Co-ops: Changed Community Perception

Impact• HFA Program helped over 1,000 low-income households access co-

ops’ healthy food • Supported 8 NFCA food co-ops to roll out new FFA programs (11

NFCA co-ops with FFA programs)• Promotion of affordable product mix through programs like NCG’s

“Co-op Basics” & Natural Value program with Associated Buyers• Built recognition that food co-ops are valuable partners in addressing

food insecurity• Emphasize the co-op difference in a competitive environment• Ensured that the Food For All programs comply with USDA

regulations

Replicating the Model: Complying with USDA

• Discount many not be offered exclusively to SNAP or WIC clients

• Co-op cannot collect, retain, or share information identifying individuals as a client of SNAP or WIC

• Discounts must be an immediate point-of-sale discount

What’s Next? • Keep learning!• Documented models = easier replication• Resources: Toolkit, audit, promo materials…• Continue evaluation of programs• Start-ups: want HFA programs established • Co-op associations facilitate ongoing

learning, collaboration and partnership

Questions: From You

Any questions about what we presented?

Questions: For You• What challenges do you see making “Food

For All” successful at your co-op?• What are you doing to make your co-op

more accessible that is different?• What would it look like to expand this? • Who are your partners / potential partners?

Learn More & Contact UsWWW.NFCA.COOP/HEALTHYFOODACCESS

Bonnie Hudspeth, NFCABonnie@nfca.coop // www.nfca.coop

Micha Josephy, CFNEmjosephy@cooperativefund.org / / www.cooperativefund.org

Faye Conte, HFVTfconte@hungerfreevt.org // www.hungerfreevt.org