DOUBLE MARKET BUCKS PROGRAM Reducing Local Food Insecurity and Strengthening the Local Food Economy
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
A MESSAGE FROM BLOOMINGTON COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET STAFF Since it was enacted in 2013, the Double Market Bucks (DMB) program has increased food security in Bloomington and the surrounding areas and strengthened the local food economy. November 2021 concluded the ninth successful season of the Double Market Bucks program at the Bloomington Community Farmers Market (BCFM) and our second season held during a global pandemic. Thanks to a generous anonymous donation to the Bloomington Parks Foundation, we were able to maintain our increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit match that began in 2021, matching up to $27 per customer, per visit. The Double Market Bucks Program has several objectives: • Reduce local food insecurity • Strengthen the local food economy • Promote healthy lifestyles among customers with SNAP benefits • Increase access to nutritious foods available at the Farmers’ Market • Increase direct marketing opportunities for Farmers’ Market vendors Thanks to the generous support of the Bloomington Hospital Foundation grant, the BCFM tripled Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits for recipients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) and qualifying seniors for the second season in a row. This turned a $24 benefit into a $72 benefit for WIC recipients, and turned a $20 benefit into a $62 benefit for qualifying seniors to use at the Bloomington Community Farmers' Market. The following report demonstrates the ways the BCFM is accomplishing our objectives related to local food security, and the ways in which grant funds were used during the 2021 market season. This work would not be possible without the incredible assistance from our community partners. Sincerely, BCFM Staff
GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS BCFM - Bloomington Community Farmers Market DMB - Double Market Bucks Program SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program FMNP - Farmers Market Nutrition Program WIC - Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children
2021 MARKET OVERVIEW The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, founded in 1975, has been enriching lives in the community for 47 seasons. By providing a place for residents and visitors to come together in a festive atmosphere, the BCFM allows customers to buy local produce and other farm products directly from the growers. The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market’s mission aims to support small farmers and gardeners, securing a local food source, and promoting food security in our community. Food security and the importance of local food economies continued to be highlighted this year amidst the second farmers' market season in a global pandemic. Supply chains continued to be interrupted nationally and internationally, meanwhile, the farmers market, its vendors and its customers were able to pivot and adapt based on current best practices from our local health department, providing continual access to fresh, local foods throughout the season. While COVID-19 continued to present some challenges to the market experience, we are grateful to all involved for being flexible and staying the course during so much uncertainty. In 2021, an estimated 52,355 visitors supported 63 local farm and food businesses at the Bloomington Community Farmers Market.
QUICK FACTS Saturdays April-September
8 a.m.-1 p.m. Bloomington City Hall, 401 N. Morton St. Saturdays October-November
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bloomington City Hall, 401 N. Morton St. Tuesdays June-September
4 p.m.-7 p.m. Pavilion at Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St.
52,355 Total Customer Visits estimated attendance at the Saturday and Tuesday Markets
198 Customers with SNAP benefits increased their purchasing power through the DMB program
200 Customers with WIC benefits increased their purchasing power through tripling of FMNP vouchers
165 Senior Customers increased their purchasing power through tripling of FMNP vouchers
55 Farm Vendors sold at a minimum of one Tuesday or Saturday market
8 Food & Beverage Artisan Vendors sold at a minimum of one Tuesday or Saturday market
DOUBLE MARKET BUCKS PROGRAM To increase food access regardless of income, the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market (BCFM) began accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in 2007 through the Market Bucks program. In 2013 the BCFM, with the support of the Bloomington Parks Foundation, began an incentive program called Double Market Bucks to match SNAP purchases at the Market. For every $3 in SNAP benefits used to purchase Market Bucks, the customer receives a matching dollar amount in additional Market Bucks to use at the BCFM (up to $27 per visit - a $9 increase from 2019). Market Bucks are paper vouchers that come in $3 increments and may be used like cash to purchase fresh, locally produced fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, eggs, dairy, and food bearing seeds and plants from BCFM vendors.
How to Obtain Market Bucks Customers with SNAP benefits purchase Market Bucks during the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market hours of operation by swiping their Hoosier Works debit card on the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) machine. During the Saturday Farmers’ Market, Market staff facilitate transactions at the front desk of City Hall. During the Tuesday Market, customers can obtain Market Bucks from the Market information table. Customers are welcome to exchange as many SNAP dollars they wish, in $3 increments; they will receive doubled Market Bucks for purchases up to $27. The entire transaction process takes just a few minutes to complete.
Vendor Reimbursement The frequency of vendor reimbursement depends on the vendor. Some vendors submit their Market Bucks for reimbursement after every Market. Others wait a few weeks, or the entire season. Once they submit their Market Bucks to the Farmers’ Market staff, their reimbursement is processed within a couple of weeks.
2020 v. 2021 Market Bucks Data $40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
2021
2020 EBT
2020
2021
2020
Double Market Bucks
2020
2021
Total Combined
37,245
SNAP + DMB ISSUED
50.22
AVERAGE TRANSACTION
1,161
SNAP/MARKET BUCKS TRANSACTIONS
198
UNIQUE SNAP HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATED
In 2021, the Double Market Bucks program served 198 unique households that receive SNAP benefits, increasing participation by 80 households from 2020. These households completed 1,161 transactions, with individual households averaging 3.61 transactions throughout the season. On average, $50.22 was distributed per transaction. The BCFM distributed $37,245 worth of Market Bucks for customers using SNAP/DMB at the farmers' market in 2021, an 87.5% increase from 2020, and a 43.2% increase from 2019. This increase is due, in part, to the increased benefit match that was instituted in 2020. This season, the DMB program increased SNAP customers' purchasing power by $17,925.
FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM 2021 was the second year that we were able to triple Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) vouchers both for qualifying seniors and for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program participants. This program was made possible by a grant from the Bloomington Hospital Foundation and through partnerships with the local WIC Program office and the Area 10 Agency on Aging. In 2021, we were able to issue $13,989 in matching dollars to FMNP program participants. $10,632 of those matching dollars were redeemed - a 76% redemption rate.
This grant enabled us to distribute $48 additional dollars worth of Market Bucks to 200 families that use WIC program benefits. These extra funds supplemented the $24 in vouchers the WIC program provided, yielding a total of $72 per household to spend at the farmers market. In all, $9,270 in Market Bucks were distributed to customers participating in the WIC program in 2021 and $6,678 (or 72%) of those dollars were redeemed. This grant also allowed us to provide $42 extra dollars in Market Bucks to qualifying seniors to supplement the $20 in vouchers they receive from Area 10 Agency on Aging - a total of $62 for each individual. 165 seniors participated in this program this year. In all, $4,266 in Market Bucks were distributed to qualifying senior participants, and $3,954 (or 84%) were redeemed. In an effort to reach more seniors, Area 10 on Aging provided volunteer shoppers for senior participants who are homebound or unable to attend in-person due to health concerns.
FARM TO FAMILY FUND The Farm to Family Fund is a local nonprofit organization that purchases produce, eggs and dairy directly from farmers for half-price at the end of each Tuesday and Saturday Market. The food is then donated to local agencies that work to increase healthy food access. This eliminates good food from the waste stream, supports local farmers, and helps provide nutritious food to members of our community who are experiencing food insecurity. In 2021, the Farm to Family Fund paid $63,450 to 35 BCFM vendors, and donated $126,900 worth of food to Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Community Kitchen, The Rise and The Hoosier Hills Food Bank.
2021 SUMMARY The challenges we continue to face in 2021 reinforce the importance of local food security, and we are proud to demonstrate the impact of our food access programs. In 2021, Market Bucks helped ease access to fresh, nutritious foods for people who are experiencing food insecurity in Bloomington by providing an additional $31,461 dollars to supplement existing SNAP and FMNP benefits. In partnership with the Farm to Family Fund, BCFM vendors supplied $126,900 worth of produce to local food rescue organizations. Funds from these programs also directly supported local farm and artisan food vendors at the Bloomington Community Farmers Market. Many thanks to all involved for your support!
THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS Area 10 Agency on Aging Farm to Family Fund IU Health, Women Infants & Children (WIC) Program
CONTACT INFORMATION Leslie Brinson Bloomington Community Farmers' Market City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department 812-349-3700 brinsonl@bloomington.in.gov
Bloomington Community Farmers' Market @btownfarmersmarketin
Photo credit Merrill Hatlen