Framework Component
Effectiveness & Maintenance Refers to the extent to which a learner continues to perform a behavior after a portion or all of the intervention responsible for the initial change in behavior has been removed. - Multi-Sector Impacts The extent to which program outcomes lead to long-term and sustained changes.Indicator Description
Sales and investments in local foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, and the associated economic benefit to farmers and producers.Background and Context
Increased consumer access to local foods purchased directly from farmers, ranchers, and fishermen represents a win-win-win for all. Consumers benefit from nutritious food options, farmers develop positive relationships with their customers, and food-related expenditures benefit local and regional economies. Direct-to-consumer marketing Local Relating to or occurring in a particular area, city, or town. food marketing arrangements in which growers/producers sell agricultural products directly to the final consumers, such as sales through farmers markets, CSAs, and farm stands. supports local farmers and food producers by compensating them with a larger fraction of the purchase price from each transaction rather than sales at grocery stores where retailers, wholesalers, and distributers are compensated.1
As a result of the multi-sectoral changes initiated in part by SNAP-Ed agencies SNAP-Ed agencies include state agencies that administer SNAP, Implementing Agencies (e.g., Land-grant universities, other universities, public health departments, Indian Tribal Organizations, and nonprofit organizations), and their sub-contractors. and agricultural businesses (see MT8), on-farm markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), and farmers markets are experiencing consumer growth, particularly among SNAP-eligible shoppers. National SNAP redemptions at farmers markets totaled $18.8 million during fiscal year 2014, a nearly six-fold increase since 2008. Instituting a bonus incentive project is one approach farmers markets are using to attract SNAP customers. These projects provide matching "bonus dollars" to improve the purchasing power of low-income families at farmers markets, so that they can afford to buy more fruits and vegetables and other healthy food.
Because there is no system for tracking SNAP benefits redeemed on local food items at grocery and convenience stores, this measure is not included in the framework. Instead, indicator LT14 measures total annual expenditures on fresh fruits and fresh vegetables by different geographic groups and income levels.
SNAP-Ed affiliated farm-to-school programs and policies also benefit local farmers and food producers who can sell their products directly to a variety of institutions, including schools, preschools, afterschool programs, child care centers, and USDA summer feeding sites. In indicator LT14, we prioritize agricultural sales in farm-to-school programs, which have the potential to scale up across school districts within a state or other jurisdiction, and USDA systematically collects data through the Farm-to-School Census. Other institutions, such as work sites, shelters, and hospitals, may also buy farm-fresh produce, but measuring agricultural sales across these systems would prove challenging without an available data system. SNAP-Ed agencies SNAP-Ed agencies include state agencies that administer SNAP, Implementing Agencies (e.g., Land-grant universities, other universities, public health departments, Indian Tribal Organizations, and nonprofit organizations), and their sub-contractors. may certainly evaluate other types of sales beyond those listed in this indicator.
SNAP-Ed affiliated activities that strengthen local food systems (see LT12) also have the potential to contribute to economic impacts. We assume a multiplier effect results from local food sales, which is described below.
Outcome The desired benefit, improvement, or achievement of a specific program or goal. Measures
| LT14a. | Total dollars spent by SNAP participants at farmers markets and direct marketing farmers during the period assessed |
| LT14b. | Total dollars invested by SNAP-Ed eligible school districts in local food purchases during the period assessed |
| LT14c. | Average annual per-person expenditures for fresh fruits and fresh vegetables for home consumption |
| LT14d. | Percentage of total farmers market sales from nutrition assistance benefits (SNAP, WIC cash value vouchers Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program) |
| LT14e. | Total dollar value of incentives redeemed by SNAP participants for purchase of targeted food items at farmers markets during the period assessed |
| LT14f. | Economic impact of SNAP-Ed affiliated changes in local and regional food production, processing, distribution, and sales |
What to Measure
LT14a. Aggregate total SNAP/EBT redemptions at farmers markets, on-farm markets, and CSAs during the period assessed, generally on an annual basis in regions with year-round markets and growing seasons, or seasonally when the growing and market season is shorter than a year. Only aggregated data should be reported when are least three farmers markets or direct-marketing farmers operating within a state or territory.
LT14b. Using the USDA's Farm-to-School Census, calculate the total dollar investments in local food by SNAP-Ed eligible schools or school districts within your local, state, territorial, or tribal area. Cross-walk your SNAP-Ed qualifying schools in the state where more than half of the students are eligible for free or reduced price meals with schools that responded to the Farm-to-School Census. Census results combine local food purchases direct from 1) individual food producers; 2) farmer, rancher, or fisher cooperatives; 3) farmers markets; 4) CSA model; or 5) food processors and manufacturers; and through 6) distributors; 7) food buying cooperatives; 8) food hub; 9) food service management companies; 10) Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Program vendors; 11) USDA Foods; 12) State Farm to School Program office; and 13) other.
LT14c. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, retrieve the annual aggregate expenditures for fresh fruits and fresh vegetables for home consumption. Data are available at the Regional level only-Midwest, Northeast, South, and West-and not by state. This outcome measure may also be beneficial for national reporting by FNS.
LT14d-e: Track the percentage of total farmers markets sales from nutrition assistance benefits (d) and the total value of bonus incentives redeemed by SNAP participants during the period assessed (e). Contact your state farmers market association or the Farmers Market Coalition Group of individuals and organizations that commit to joint action, typically for a longer term, in adopting nutrition or physical activity practices, supports and/or standards. for information on bonus incentives and sales categories. https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/. If no information is publicly available, use the FM Tracks reporting tool operated by the Prevention Research Center at Case Western Reserve University.
LT14f: The final outcome measure is developmental; there is no current methodology for measuring the economic impact of SNAP-Ed affiliated agricultural sales across the local, state, territorial, or tribal area. There are two proposed methods that will require practitioner testing, input, and modification over time:
- Multiplier A multiplier is the number of times money circulates within a region following a transaction; it is a marker of local economic impact. effect: A multiplier is the number of times money circulates within a region following a transaction; it is a marker of local economic impact. Find an existing published study with a multiplier reported for your agricultural area of interest. For instance, Georgia has reported a multiplier of 2.66 for statewide farmers market activities; another study showed the Baltimore-Washington region has a multiplier effect of 1.6 for farmers market sales. Multiply the total annual sales resulting from your SNAP-Ed affiliated agricultural initiative in your state or area by an existing multiplier. For instance, if your combined sales at new farmers markets accepting SNAP, cash, and commercial credit and debit cards in low-income areas is $500,000, the conservative multiplier of 1.6 would yield a total economic impact of $800,000.
- Input-output analysis: A more sophistical approach is calculating the economic impact of farmers markets and related agricultural activities in low-income areas in terms of local employment and income. Working with a statistician or economist, SNAP-Ed agencies SNAP-Ed agencies include state agencies that administer SNAP, Implementing Agencies (e.g., Land-grant universities, other universities, public health departments, Indian Tribal Organizations, and nonprofit organizations), and their sub-contractors. could calculate what is known as an input-output analysis, otherwise referred to as economic impact modeling. One popular economic impact modeling software is called IMPact Analysis for PLANning (IMPLAN). The University of Arizona Extension's SNAP-Ed program published results from its IMPLAN analysis. Although not specific to farmers markets, Arizona's analysis found that SNAP-Ed spending "generated $5.7 million in direct economic activity (sales), with $2.4 million representing the labor income earned by the 62 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs directly supported by UA Extension SNAP-Ed. These direct impacts supported an additional 39 FTE jobs, $2.3 million in income, and $6.1 million in sales in other Arizona industries through indirect and induced effects. The total economic impact of UA Extension SNAP-Ed spending in 2012, including multiplier effects, was 101 FTE jobs, $4.7 million in income, and $11.8 million in total sales."2
Population
N/ASurveys and Data Collection Tools
Key Glossary Terms
Community A group of people defined by geographic, demographic, and/or civic/political boundaries. Supported Agriculture (CSA), Farmers market A multi-stall market that sells fresh produce to the public at a central/fixed location. , On-farm market A farmer/producer with a one-stand operation that sells a variety of fruits and vegetables (produced by the farmer) directly to the public. , Farm-to-school Programs through which schools buy and feature locally produced, farm-fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, meat, and beans on their menus. , Multiplier A multiplier is the number of times money circulates within a region following a transaction; it is a marker of local economic impact.
Additional Resources or Supporting Citations
Note that individual retailer information is protected under the Food and Nutrition Act at 7 U.S.C. 2018(9)(c) and Title 7 Part 278 of the federal regulations at 278.1(q).
Additionally, USDA's National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS) survey may be a useful reference for national benchmarks. Detailed information was collected about foods purchased or otherwise acquired for consumption at home and away from home, including foods acquired through food and nutrition assistance programs. The survey includes nationally representative data from 4,826 households, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households, low-income households not participating in SNAP, and higher income households https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/foodaps-national-household-food-acquisition-and-purchase-survey.aspx
References:
1 McFadden DT, Conner D, Deller S, Hughes D, Meter K, Morales A, et al. The Economics of Local Relating to or occurring in a particular area, city, or town. Food Systems A group of related parts that move or work together within a whole organization or a network of organizations. : A Toolkit to Guide Community A group of people defined by geographic, demographic, and/or civic/political boundaries. Discussions, Assessments, and Choices. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service; March 2016. Available from https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Toolkit%20Designed%20FINAL%203-22-16.pdf.
2 Kerna A, Frisvold G, Jacobs L, Farrell VA, Houtkooper L, Misner S. Application of IMPLAN to extension programs: Economic impacts of the University of Arizona cooperative extension SNAP-Ed spending. Journal of Extension. 2015;53(6). Available from https://experts.arizona.edu/en/publications/application-of-implan-to-extension-programs-economic-impacts-of-t
Additional Resource:
Friends of the Earth - The Economic Benefits of Farmers Markets https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/farmers_markets_act_as_gathering_space_and_local_economic_engine