Field & Fork Network Inc

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE NEED TO ADDRESS LOW FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE ACROSS NEW YORK STATE (NYS). CONSUMING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IS PROTECTIVE AGAINST DIET-RELATED CHRONIC ILLNESSES1, YET MOST AMERICANS ARE NOT MEETING DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, AMONG NYS ADULTS, 33.5% CONSUME FRUIT AND 20.5% CONSUME VEGETABLES LESS THAN ONCE DAILY, AND CONSUMPTION IS EVEN LOWER AMONG LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS2. THESE FINDINGS ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNING GIVEN THAT IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 29.1%3 OF ADULTS IN NYS ARE OBESE. FURTHERMORE, ADULTS FROM LOW-INCOME AND RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITIZED BACKGROUNDS ARE ESPECIALLY AT ELEVATED RISK FOR OBESITY4-6.ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN NYS TO INCREASE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE. IN 2021, MORE THAN 2 MILLION NYS RESIDENTS EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY7. DURING COVID-19, FOOD INSECURITY INCREASED IN NYS FROM 8.6% (2021) TO 9.7% (2022) AND INCREASED TWICE AS MUCH FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN VS. HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT CHILDREN8. ALSO, BLACK AND HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY MORE THAN NON-HISPANIC WHITE HOUSEHOLDS, 17.5%, 17%, AND 7.1% RESPECTIVELY8. REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) PARTICIPATION, 2.8 MILLION NYS RESIDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN 2022 9 AND ~53% WERE HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN10.LOCAL CAPABILITIES AND ASSETS TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN NYS. TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN NYS, THE FIELD & FORK NETWORK (F&FN) LAUNCHED THE DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS NEW YORK (DUFBNY) PROGRAM IN 2014 FOR SNAP USERS. DUFBNY STARTED AT 7 FARMERS MARKETS AND NOW HAS OVER 220+ SMALL RETAIL (E.G., CORNER STORES), GROCERY AND FARM DIRECT (FARMERS MARKETS, MOBILE MARKETS AND STOPS, AND FARM STANDS) SITES IN 32 COUNTIES. THIS IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS NYS. GIVEN THE WIDE SERVICE AREA, FORMATIVE RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED ON AN ONGOING BASIS (RATHER THAN A ONE-TIME COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT) TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF NYS RESIDENTS.

DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS NYS (DOUBLE UP), A NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT MATCHES SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) BENEFITS $1 FOR $1, PROVIDES NY'S MOST NUTRITIONALLY VULNERABLE RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOODS THAT ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER INCIDENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASE. DOUBLE UP CAN ONLY BE USED TO PURCHASE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, MAKING HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS FOODS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO THOSE RECEIVING FOOD ASSISTANCE. BY OFFERING DOUBLE UP AT VARIOUS OUTLETS - INCLUDING FARMERS MARKETS, MOBILE MARKETS, SMALL RETAIL AND GROCERY SITES - ACROSS URBAN, SUBURBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH MORE OF THOSE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD SECURITY AND MAINTAINING A NUTRITIOUS DIET. USING FOOD ACCESS (SNAP) AND HEALTH OUTCOMES AS KEY INDICATORS, WE WILL BE TARGETING COMMUNITIES THAT REFLECT THE GREATEST NEED AND WHERE DOUBLE UP WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT.

THE NIAGARA FALLS CITY MARKET HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE THE HORSE AND BUGGY DAYS OF THE LATE 1800S. IT HAS BEEN A PLACE WHERE LOCAL FOOD AND CULTURE HAS BEEN CELEBRATED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. HOWEVER, AS POPULATION HAS DECLINED AND POVERTY RATES HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, THE MARKET HAS DEALT WITH SOME CHALLENGES. IN 1999, THE CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS EXECUTED A LEASE WITH A PRIVATE BUSINESSMAN FOR THE PLAZA THE WHERE THE MARKET LOCATED, ALLOWING THIS BUSINESSMAN TO OPERATE THE FARMERS MARKET FOR A TERM OF 32 YEARS WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR 44 ADDITIONAL YEARS. THAT LEASE HAS BEEN TERMINATED.FIELD AND FORK NETWORK HAS AN AGREEMENT TO MANAGE THE FARMERS MARKET ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS, THUS GIVING US THE ACCESS NEED TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROJECT. EVIDENCE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LETTER IS PROVIDED AS ATTACHMENT, SIGNED BY MAYOR ROBERT RESTAINO.FUNDING THROUGH THE FARMERS MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM WILL ALLOW THE MARKET TO TAKE MORE STEPS FORWARD BY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THE MARKET TO BUILD CAPACITY AND REIMAGINE ITSELF WITH THE INPUT OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS (FARMERS, CONSUMERS, AND OTHERS).

DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS NEW YORK STATE: INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH HEALTHY FOODS