Breaking Barriers in Food Equity: A Mobile Farmers Market – Garth Woodruff
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Date: 11 February 2017
Speakers: Garth Woodruff, M.A.
Positions: Asst. Prof. of Horticulture and Landscape Design
Topic: Breaking Barriers in Food Equity: A Mobile Farmers MarketVenue: Garber Auditorium, Chan Shun HallAttendance: 40Over 40% of Berrien County land is in agriculture. The county has far more farms and agricultural land than the average Michigan county, and a far higher percentage of its economy isbased on agriculture. We also have numerous food processing plants. Despite this, some 47% of the county population receives food assistance, nearly a third of the population is obese, 11%suffer from type 2 diabetes, and the county has seven identified “food deserts” where access to affordable and nutritious food is difficult, especially if someone has no car. Benton Harbor is the largest such food desert in Berrien County. Also, less than 1% of Benton Harbor’s food spending goes to local businesses and farmers.Over the past three summers Andrews University’s Agriculture Department (AU Ag) has worked to improve access to fresh produce. In 2014 it obtained an old FedEx truck, received agrant, and gained approval as a farmers’ market, where people can use “double up food bucks” (doubling the value of their food stamps). In summer 2014 AU Ag served all seven BerrienCounty food deserts at least once a week for 16 weeks, selling produce mostly from the AU farm. They faced several challenges in getting food to people, however, including financialbarriers, physical proximity, acceptability, and culinary knowledge on the part of their intended audience. The past two summers have been conducted in collaboration with Be Healthy Berrien. Whirlpool also provided some materials.In 2015 AU Ag decided to go only to Benton Harbor to help narrow its study of how best to proceed. They surveyed customer preferences, needs, etc, and offered cooking classes. Thesurvey revealed that most of their audience prepares their meals at home, but that 77% eat fewer than the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Most lived within a mile of the AU Ag stop; over half shopped at the stand multiple times per month; and nearly all said they had eaten more vegetables than usual as a result. All said they would shop with us again. AU Ag was not, however, breaking even on costs, and one cannot usually sustain a program on grants. AU Ag and the community both also wanted a self-sustaining and stable program.In summer 2016 AU Ag tested three different business models for two weeks each, seeking a sustainable option. “Model 1” targeted affluent customers in an effort to make moneyto use in poorer areas. They offered six vegetarian wrap lunch options and a small market w/local fruits and vegetables. In the afternoon in poorer areas they had a larger market w/localfruits and vegetables and gave cooking demos. “Model 2” targeted poorer Benton Harbor areas. All of the produce was donated from local farms, with product sales covering overhead. Theyalso offered cooking demos. “Model 3” targeted the ALICE population (asset-limited income-constrained employed) and made mostly non-residential stops.The results indicated that Model 1 can work, as the wraps were very successful. AU Ag hopes to use this model again, while seeking partnerships with churches and other groups. Theyalso note the environmental sustainability, given that there is no shipping from Arizona, etc. AU Ag’s staff also has the opportunity to have a lot of conversation with people in the area. Thebottom line is that there is strong demand in our customer base, but it is a small customer base, so it is challenging for the project to sustain itself economically.
Michiana Adventist Forum 