Sullivan Fresh Markets

REFLECTIONS ON

SULLIVAN FRESH MARKETS

FARMER REFLECTION “It’s easy to take for granted having fresh, healthy, locally grown produce to eat and enjoy. To bring that to people who may not have the same experience due to lack of access, is the reason I farm. Sometimes customers at the Monticello Farmers’ Market don’t even recognize some of the produce at my stand. There is no greater feeling than when they try something new and come back next week excited, happy, and wanting more. CCE Sullivan makes it easy for us growers by managing the SNAP/EBT payments and helping us navigate the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. It’s a win-win for the whole Sullivan Catskills community.” -Brenda, Owner of Bobolink Farm (above)

COLLABORATORS

• Community Church of

Wurtsboro • Fair Food Network • Garnet Health • SNAP-Ed • Sullivan County

Department of Family

Services • Sullivan County Office for the Aging • Sullivan County Public

Health Services • Sullivan Renaissance • Sun River Health • Town of Fallsburg

FARMS & PRODUCERS

• Bethel Creamery • Bobolink Farm • Breys Egg Farm • Burns Farm • Hassina Brodie • Myers Century Farm • Neversink Farm • Somewhere In Time Farm • Soons Orchard • Trapani Farms • Quarton Farm

NUMBERS

Indirect Contacts: 5,803 Money Spent on Local, Regional, NYS Farm Products: $25,300 Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons Redeemed: $4,592 SNAP/EBT Sales: $2,415 (50% increase since 2020)

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

NUTRITION & FOOD SAFETY AT THE MARKETS

Educational workshops are offered at Sullivan Fresh markets. CCE Sullivan nutrition education staff presented on everything from at-home food safety practices to portion size and healthy recipes. Staff handed out over 1,000 recipe cards to customers. Overall, we provided 26 presentations on nutrition and consumer food safety. (Presentation pictured at left.)

INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

Many incentive programs are offered at Sullivan Fresh markets due to partnerships we have in the community. In 2021, we distributed and received Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupons, WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupons, Fresh Connect Checks, Double-Up Food Bucks, and SNAP/EBT tokens. These incentive programs help make purchasing local, fresh and healthy farm products affordable for market customers. Overall, $12,000 in coupons were redeemed by customers, all of which went back into the local agricultural economy.

SULLIVAN RX

For the second year in a row, CCE Sullivan, Garnet Health Doctors, and Sullivan Renaissance sponsored the Sullivan Fresh RX program. After participating in nutrition and food safety demonstrations by Garnet Health Community Health Coordinators and CCE staff, customers received $10 in RX coupons to use at the markets, along with recipes for preparing healthy meals from market produce. In 2021, we distributed $5,000 in RX coupons.