Access to Healthy Food
Updated March 2005
Direct Marketing
Overview
One way that states are increasing access to healthy food is through direct marketing assistance programs. These programs can include farm to institution programs such as schools, hospitals, prisons or other state agencies, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, direct delivery, agri-tourism (such as pick-your-own farms) and subscription farming, and community supported agriculture (CSA). These are all examples of programs that provide small- and medium-size farmers an opportunity to develop new markets with often higher returns for their goods.
Farm to Institution
The premise of an institutional purchasing initiative is if public funds are used to buy food for public institutions, such as hospitals, schools and correctional facilities, then state and local governments should consider how publicly funded food purchases can support local farmers.
Farm to School programs allow local farmers to direct market their products and increase the sustainability of their business. These programs connect school districts or individual schools with local farms to provide healthy meals in school cafeterias, improve student nutrition and provide health and nutrition education opportunities while supporting local small farmers. Preliminary evidence suggests that children will significantly increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables when they are prepared and served in a tasty and attractive manner.
In 2002, Congress passed the Farm Bill that created the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program to promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption among children. The program evaluation showed student eating habits improved and awareness of and preference for a variety of fruits and vegetables increased. In 2004, the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act made the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program permanent and created the Farm-to-Cafeteria program to improve access to local foods in schools and institutions receiving funds under school meals programs.
NCSL staff and legislators from around the country travled to Seattle on May 17th and 18th to learn more about all aspects of farm-to-school programs in the Greater Seattle area. Please click here for a webpage with multiple resources and presentations from the meeting.
Farmers' Markets
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), from 1994 to 2002 the number of farmers’ markets increased 79% to over 3,100 markets across the country. Evaluation of farmers’ market programs have shown benefits to both consumers and farmers. Farmers' markets provide consumers the opportunity to buy high-quality, fresh products directly from the farmers at competitive prices. Additionally, in areas lacking in supermarkets, such as low-income urban neighborhoods, farmers’ markets provide a source of fresh fruits and vegetables. Women enrolled in the WIC program and low-income senior citizens enrolled in the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program are eligible to receive coupons through USDA grant programs that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs. Careful planning for the placement of farmers’ markets, such as near bus stops or transit stations, can make the markets accessible to those who depend on public transportation.
Farmers' markets also provide benefits to family farmers. Gross returns from sales at farmers' markets generally are much higher than from sales to wholesalers and distributors. Small farmers can avoid the high costs associated with shipping agricultural produce, by driving their own vehicles to transport their produce to the markets. Beyond the financial benefits of farmers' markets, they provide an opportunity for farmers' to integrate themselves into the community, develop relationships with their customers, and increase their customer base.
Cal Food and Agriculture Code § 47010 et seq.
Establishes the Certified Farmers' Market Advisory Committee to ensure the integrity of certified farmers' markets and advise the secretary of agriculture on all matters pertaining to the direct marketing of agriculture products at farmers' markets.
Cal Food and Agriculture Code § 47000 et seq.
Finds that direct marketing of agricultural products benefits the agricultural community and the consumer by providing an alternative method for growers to sell their products while benefiting the consumer by supplying quality produce at reasonable prices. Encourages the maintenance of a direct marketing program and industry promotion of California-grown fresh produce.
Cal. Education Code § 9000
Requires the department of education to make competitive grants available for instructional school gardens and school garden salad bars.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-33-101 et seq.
Requires the State Board of Health to help implement a Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to distribute food coupons that are redeemable only at markets to eligible participants of the W.I.C. program.
Ga Code Ann. § 2-10-130 et seq.
Allows the commissioner of agriculture to establish and supervise a roadside market incentive program.
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 7 § 471
Requires the department of agriculture to work with the commissioner of human services to administer a program to promote the purchase of state-grown and processed food products at local farmers’ markets and farm stands by nutritionally at-risk groups.
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 7, § 412
Requires the commissioner of agriculture to promote direct marketing such as farmers’ markets, roadside stands and sales to consumer cooperatives. Also requires a feasibility study of direct marketing to institutions such as hospitals and schools.
Minn. Stat. Ann. § 16C.12
Requires the commissioner of agriculture to encourage and make a reasonable attempt to identify and purchase food products that are grown in Minnesota.
N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law § 23-281 et seq.
Requires the commissioner of agriculture to implement direct marketing programs that provide assistance to producers, consumers or non-profit organizations. Establishes a statewide advisory council and regional advisory councils for direct marketing in those regions. Establishes “New York Harvest for New York Kids Week” to help provide information about the importance of agriculture to schoolchildren across the State.
N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 22-259 et seq.
Requires the department of agriculture to provide technical assistance to any public or private agency for the planning, financing or development of a farmers` market, which may include facilities for first-instance processing, shipping, storage, and direct sales of farm and food products on a retail or wholesale basis. Creates a grant program for the purpose of providing state assistance for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, expansion or rehabilitation of farmers` markets.
S.C. Code Ann. § 46-19-210 et seq.
Establishes a Roadside Market Incentive Program to improve the quality of roadside markets.
The NCSL Healthy Community Design Project regularly collects resources of interest to legislators, policymakers and those interested in nutrition access-related issues. We provide the links below for informational purposes only, and they do not necessarily reflect NCSL positions.
National Farm to School Web Site
Farm to School programs connect schools with local farms to serve healthy meals in schools, improve student nutrition, provide health and nutrition education and support local small farmers.
Farm to Hospital: Promoting Health and Supporting Local Agriculture
Hospitals around the country are testing out innovative Farm to Hospital programs that bring fresh, healthy food to medical facilities and offer new markets for local farmers.
Farm to College Program
The Community Food Security Coalition provides detailed information about Farm to College programs including recommended policies and support, barriers, benefits, and recommended strategies. |
