We received this letter that Bernie Prince, co-founder of FRESHFARM Market, sent to Dr. Pierre Vigilance of DC’s Department of Health earlier this week.
Ms. Prince notes that the new WIC Fruit and Vegetable Cash Voucher Program — which enables low-income mothers to redeem food assistance coupons at farmers markets — is currently limited by a registration process that hampers farmer participation. As reported here recently, farmers had only one opportunity (this past Wednesday) to train and register to accept WIC vouchers. Ms. Prince notes that there are other options to increase community participation in this promising program.
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March 9, 2010
Dr. Pierre Vigilance
D.C. Department of Health
Washington, D.C.
Dear Dr. Vigilance:
I am writing to you on behalf of WIC recipients in Washington, D.C. and Maryland to urge you to expand access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for low-income families. At FRESHFARM Markets, we were pleased to learn that D.C. will authorize market vendors to accept WIC Fruit and Vegetable Cash Value Voucher coupons (FVC). We applaud you for participating in this new program, and appreciate the District’s continued participation in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).
Unfortunately, based on feedback from farmers, we are concerned that the new FVC program will not reach its full potential here. One major hurdle is the training to participate. As you may be aware, there is currently one training session available, on March 10, in Greenbelt, MD. The training runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will require a two- to three-hour drive for many of our market farmers. The very same training for farmers market producers in Maryland covers all the necessary material in about one hour. In addition, while D.C. WIC farmers market coordinator Sabrina Lewis has scheduled just one training, James Butler, of Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, is planning multiple training sessions on 13 different dates in Greenbelt, Annapolis, Hagerstown, Baltimore, and Denton.
Based on a preliminary survey of farmers and our own experience, Maryland’s approach will significantly increase farmer participation. A member of the group DC Food for All, Daniel White, has conducted interviews with four of the farms that are most ubiquitous at markets within the District. One resounding finding: Farmers will not take part in a new or existing WIC program if it requires a large time investment and small earnings. The current training opportunities, in addition to other complaints such as the complex process of using WIC checks and delays in reimbursement, could limit the number of farmers willing to sell to low-income mothers.
I believe there is a simple step you can take to improve farmer participation in the WIC programs at farmers markets. Maryland and D.C. could craft an agreement to accept training for the FVC and FMNP across District and state lines.
Amy Crone, who coordinates the MD FMNP training, has expressed an interest in working with your department to share FMNP authorization. Such arrangements sound like a workable idea. The trainings might be more convenient and attractive to all farmers, even if they only intend to sell in D.C.
As you may know, WIC nutrition programs at farmers markets bring many benefits. Nationally, the WIC FMNP provided more than $20 million in fresh produce to low-income women and children in 2008, and operated with a grant of more than $300,000 in D.C. last year.
We have seen a positive response to the FMNP that provides $30 for mothers over a six-month farmers market season. The WIC FVCs represent even greater benefits, allowing mothers to buy up to $120 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables per year at farmers markets—even more for women raising multiples. This not only represents a four-fold increase in healthy foods, but hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for D.C.
The benefits do not stop there. An evaluation of the program in Washington State showed that WIC users who used vouchers at markets increased their knowledge and consumption of fruits and vegetables, and planned to keep coming to farmers markets in the future. Several area farmers markets—including the Crossroads market in Takoma Park and the FRESHFARM Markets at H Street NE, the White House, and Silver Spring—established popular grant-funded “Double Dollars” incentive programs, which matched the value of vouchers, increasing shoppers’ buying power and farmers’ income.
Clearly, WIC programs at farmers markets have vast potential, which the Department of Health could easily multiply. We hope you can respond quickly to this request. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Anything you can do to make the WIC FMNP and the new FVC programs more accessible will work wonders for low-income shoppers and our local farmers.
Best wishes,
Bernadine Prince
Co-Founder & Co-Director
FRESHFARM Markets
Tel: 202.362.8880
