Lessons Learned: A Survey of Farmers Who Received Funding from a Locally Grown Produce Initiative

Abstract

The objective of the survey was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Locally Grown Produce Initiative from the perspective of key stakeholders so they can be better served by similar initiatives in the future. In 2015, a telephone survey of New York State farmers who received HPNAP Locally Grown Produce Initiative funds was conducted. Farmers from a food bank region in Upstate New York were asked to provide feedback about what they perceived to be the strengths and limitations of the HPNAP Locally Grown Produce Initiative. Increasing access to locally grown produce for patrons of emergency food programs may improve health in vulnerable populations while stimulating the farming economy. The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) provides New York State funds to food banks and other organizations within the emergency food network. In 2012, HPNAP received a one-time $2 million funding allocation for a Locally Grown Produce Initiative, which was divided among eight regional food banks to make purchases between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Likert scale questions were analyzed with simple statistical analyses to determine the range and frequency of responses. Open-ended questions were analyzed using a systematic analysis of recurring themes. The results of the survey indicate that future initiatives to promote locally grown produce need to account for the seasonality of produce by being implemented in a manner that allows farmers to have adequate time to make produce projections.