Presentation Title
Central California Healthy Stores Initiative
Keywords
food deserts, food access, food insecurity, customer service, building community support, increasing sales volume, local foods
Description
In 2012, with funding from Feed the Hunger and a matching grant from CA Fresh Works Fund, the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP) embarked on a small pilot project known as the Central California Healthy Stores Initiative, to: 1) increase access and availability of local fruits and vegetables in disadvantaged rural communities of Fresno County, and 2) establish a distribution mechanism for local sourcing by small stores. CCROPP worked with the National Hmong American Farmers, Inc. as a key partner in its distribution of produce and collaborated with three small storeowners.
Local residents were engaged to inform the type of produce to be sold and the price points. CCROPP established The Healthy Rewards Program as a key element and incentive in boosting the customer base. The Healthy Rewards Program helped to offset some of the stores initial costs associated with the purchase of produce by allowing them to buy a variety of produce, while getting sales going for the farmer, and incentivized customers who spent $10.00 in produce to receive a reimbursement of $5.00 towards the purchase of more produce. This session shares successes and lessons learned from the project.
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Central California Healthy Stores Initiative
In 2012, with funding from Feed the Hunger and a matching grant from CA Fresh Works Fund, the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP) embarked on a small pilot project known as the Central California Healthy Stores Initiative, to: 1) increase access and availability of local fruits and vegetables in disadvantaged rural communities of Fresno County, and 2) establish a distribution mechanism for local sourcing by small stores. CCROPP worked with the National Hmong American Farmers, Inc. as a key partner in its distribution of produce and collaborated with three small storeowners.
Local residents were engaged to inform the type of produce to be sold and the price points. CCROPP established The Healthy Rewards Program as a key element and incentive in boosting the customer base. The Healthy Rewards Program helped to offset some of the stores initial costs associated with the purchase of produce by allowing them to buy a variety of produce, while getting sales going for the farmer, and incentivized customers who spent $10.00 in produce to receive a reimbursement of $5.00 towards the purchase of more produce. This session shares successes and lessons learned from the project.
