Wholesome Wave Inc

LADDER FOR GROWTH: A NATIONAL NETWORK TO BUILD CAPACITY AND TEST INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVES

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH, WHOLESOME, FOOD FOR ALL GEORGIANS WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY. THROUGH OUR GEORGIA FRESH FOR LESS PROGRAM, WE MATCH EACH FEDERAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE DOLLARS SPENT AT OUR PARTNER FARMERS MARKETS AND FARMS WITH AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR TO SPEND ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, LEVERAGING EXISTING GOVERNMENT FOOD NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE SHOPPING AT LOCAL FOOD OUTLETS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PARTICIPATING SNAP RECIPIENTS. IN SHORT, GF4L DIRECTLY ALIGNS WITH THE GUSNIPGOAL TO INCREASE THE PURCHASE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AMONG LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS PARTICIPATING IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) BY PROVIDING INCENTIVES AT THE POINT OF PURCHASE.

WHOLESOME WAVE GEORGIA (WWG) HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN $3.6 MILLION IN FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE TO GEORGIA'S FOOD-INSECURE FAMILIES THROUGH ITS GEORGIA FRESH FOR LESS (GF4L) PROGRAM. DUE TO STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WWG HAS GROWN GF4L FROM 3 PARTNER FARMERS MARKETS IN 2009 TO A NETWORK OF 74 FARMERS MARKETS AND DIRECT-MARKETING FARMS IN 2021. WWG EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN 2020 THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, OBSERVING A 38% INCREASE IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INCENTIVE REDEMPTION OVER 2019 AND 142% GROWTH IN NEW SNAP/EBT CUSTOMERS OVER 2019.WWG BELIEVES THERE IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE SNAP RECIPIENTS TO GF4L AS A RESULT OF THE NEED AND UNCERTAINTY SPURRED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE OBSERVED SURGE IN NEW CUSTOMERS AND REDEMPTIONS CAN BE SUSTAINED AND AMPLIFIED THROUGH PARTICIPANT-FOCUSED OUTREACH AND COMMITTED AND DIVERSE EFFORTS TO RETAIN THE NEW GF4L CUSTOMERS GAINED SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. WWG EXPECTS THESE STEEPLY UPWARD TRENDS TO BE UNINTERRUPTED THROUGH AND BEYOND THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.WWG WILL DEVELOP SNAP PARTICIPANT CENTERED PRINT AND DIGITAL MATERIALS THAT WILL INCREASE 1) AWARENESS OF AND PARTICIPATION IN GF4L AND 2) THE PURCHASE OF FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BY LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS PARTICIPATING IN SNAP. THE INCREASED UTILIZATION FROM PARTICIPANT FOCUSED PROGRAMMING WILL HAVE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF DECREASING FOOD INSECURITY AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND NUTRITION OF LOW-INCOME GEORGIANS.

WHOLESOME WAVE GEORGIA BELIEVES THAT ALL GEORGIANS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD, WHOLESOME AND LOCALLY GROWN FOOD. THIS LETTER SERVES AS AN ASSURANCE THAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO, AND HAS FUNDING FROM NON-FEDERAL SOURCES FOR, THE GUS SCHUMACHER NUTRITION INCENTIVE (GUSNIP)GRANTPROGRAM AS OUTLINED IN OUR ATTACHED PROPOSAL.OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH, WHOLESOME, FOOD FOR ALL GEORGIANS WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY. THROUGH OUR GEORGIA FRESH FOR LESS PROGRAM, WE MATCH EACH FEDERAL NUTRITION BENEFIT DOLLARS SPENT AT OUR PARTNER FARMERS MARKETS AND FARMS, LEVERAGING EXISTING GOVERNMENT FOOD NUTRITION PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE SHOPPING AT LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS AND FARMS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PARTICIPATING SNAP RECIPIENTS. IN SHORT, GF4L DIRECTLY ALIGNS WITH THE FINI GOAL TO INCREASE THE PURCHASE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AMONG LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS PARTICIPATING IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) BY PROVIDING INCENTIVES AT THE POINT OF PURCHASE.

FARM-TO-GROCERY NUTRITION INCENTIVES IN RURAL AND URBAN NEW ENGLAND

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GEORGIA FOOD FOR HEALTH

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WHOLESOME WAVE OF BRIDGEPORT CT, A NATIONAL LEADER IN NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAMMING AND POLICY, IS COLLABORATING WITH HISPANIC HEALTH COUNCIL, YALE-GRIFFIN PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER, AS WELL AS REDEMPTION PARTNERS US HUNGER, C-TOWN AND KEYFOOD MARKETS, AND HARTFORD FOOD SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT A THREE-YEAR PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM FOR INCREASED FOOD ACCESS AND IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR 150 MATERNAL HEALTH PATIENTS. WE WILL CONDUCT A HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY PROCESS TO APPLY THE FIDELITY, EQUITY, AND DIGNITY (FED) SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK TO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINEMENT OF THIS PROGRAM MODEL, MEASURING DIGNITY AND EQUITY METRICS WITH THE PARTICIPANTS. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE HISPANIC HEALTH COUNCIL (HHC) IN HARTFORD CT, RECRUITING 150 PATIENTS IN THEIR FIRST TRIMESTER. HHC WILL WORK WITH THESE PATIENTS THROUGH PARTICIPATORY PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, AND CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE NUTRITION EDUCATION. THE 10- MONTHS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLE PRESCRIPTIONS OF $100 PER MONTH ARE TO BE REDEEMED THROUGH THE US HUNGER HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM, OR THROUGH A VARIETY OF LOCALLY-OWNED COMMUNITY MARKETS.WHOLESOME WAVE AND OUR PARTNERS WILL DOCUMENT AND DISSEMINATE THE FED-BASED MODEL WITH RIGOROUS SYSTEMS TO ENSURE COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND JUSTICE.

GEORGIA FRESH FOR LESS NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM

NEW ENGLAND FOOD HUB CLU

IN SUMMARY:WHOLESOME WAVE OF BRIDGEPORT CT, A NATIONAL LEADER IN NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAMMING AND POLICY, IS COLLABORATING WITH HARTFORD HEALTH SYSTEM, YALE-GRIFFIN PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER, HISPANIC HEALTH COUNCIL, AS WELL AS REDEMPTION PARTNERS US HUNGER, C-TOWN AND KEYFOOD MARKETS, AND HARTFORD FOOD SYSTEM TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR IMPLEMENTING A TWO-YEAR PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM FOR INCREASED FOOD ACCESS AND IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR 100-120 MATERNAL HEALTH PATIENTS. WE WILL CONDUCT A HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY PROCESS TO APPLY THE FIDELITY, EQUITY, AND DIGNITY (FED) SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK TO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINEMENT OF THIS PROGRAM MODEL, MEASURING NOT ONLY HEALTH OUTCOMES BUT ALSO DIGNITY AND EQUITY METRICS WITH THE PARTICIPANTS.THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT HARTFORD HEALTHCARE'S WOMEN'S AMBULATORY HEALTH SERVICES (WAHS) CLINIC IN HARTFORD CT, RECRUITING 100-120 PATIENTS IN THEIR FIRST TRIMESTER. COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNER HISPANIC HEALTH COUNCIL (HHC) WILL WORK WITH THESE PATIENTS THROUGH PARTICIPATORY PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, AND CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE NUTRITION EDUCATION. THE 10-MONTHS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLE PRESCRIPTIONS OF $100 PER MONTH ARE TO BE REDEEMED THROUGH THE US HUNGER HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM, OR THROUGH A VARIETY OF LOCALLY-OWNED COMMUNITY MARKETS.THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO ACHIEVE MEASURABLE CORE INDICATORS SUCH AS FOOD SECURITY, BMI, AND HBA1C LEVELS, AS WELL MENTAL HEALTH, MATERNAL GESTATIONAL WEIGHT, AND SHARING DATA AND FINDINGS WITH USDA NTAE AND THE FIELD. WE WILL DOCUMENT AND DISSEMINATE THE FED-BASED MODEL WITH RIGOROUS SYSTEMS TO ENSURE COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND JUSTICE.

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

RISK REDUCTION FOR SMALL FARMERS IN CONNETICUT: A STATE FOOD SYSTEM ALLIANCE-BUILDING PROJECT.

FARMERS MARKET WIC AND FOOD STAMP INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

FARM-TO-GROCERY NUTRITION INCENTIVES IN RURAL AND URBAN NEW ENGLAND