Food Access Report 2015-2016

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FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS 2015-2016 REPORT


Curbside Customer Demographics (Based on intercept surveys)

Curbside Market Foodlink’s Curbside Market is growing. It has more sites, in more communities, with more customers, and more sales of fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income consumers throughout our region. Our first “mobile farmer’s market” hit the road in 2013 with the goal of delivering fresh produce to communities with limited access to nutritious, affordable food. It began with one truck and several stops in Rochester at community centers, affordable housing facilities, and federally qualified health centers. Now the Curbside Market operates two trucks with routes in six counties, with the plan to expand to three trucks in eight counties in 2017. What was once a summertime program has evolved into a year-round operation. This past year, our expansion efforts included pilot sites at doctor’s offices and public schools, increased nutrition education programming, and the introduction of dozens of volunteers and eight City of Rochester students working with the Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP), who assist our full-time staff. Curbside Market’s purpose has always been clear, but this year we decided to analyze our customer base after conducting a customer survey at multiple sites last summer. Within this report, you’ll see a snapshot of what we learned about the people we serve. We’ll also offer a glance at the progress that our other Food Access Programs have made in the past year. The resulting story and data demonstrates the progress that Foodlink is making in achieving our mission of ending hunger and leveraging the power of food to build a healthier community.


“As a senior on a fixed income who doesn’t drive, affordable fresh fruits and vegetables aren’t always an option. Foodlink’s Curbside Market provides me with healthy food all year long.” — Debbie Trout, Curbside Customer

Curbside Market trucks (pictured at top) act as a produce aisle on wheels, getting fresh produce to those who may not have access to it otherwise. Customers can shop directly on the truck at housing facilities, senior centers and other locations.

“It helps me make healthier choices because it’s convenient.” — Weekly customer at Hudson Ridge site

“It helps with my diabetes and has helped lower my blood pressure.” — Weekly customer at Pinnacle Place site

“I’d eat much less healthy food if Curbside Market wasn’t here!” — Weekly customer at Andrews Terrace site

“On a scale of 1-10, [Curbside] is a 10. I wouldn’t change a thing. I tell everyone about Curbside and how much healthier I am because of you guys!”

A nutrition education demonstration held at one of Foodlink’s Urban Farm Stands.

Access, with a side of education Providing greater access to nutritious food is the first step to building healthier communities. But what comes next? Foodlink has scaled up its efforts to provide nutrition education to those that visit our food access programs. Our staff of educators empowers community members to eat fresh produce, stretch their food budgets and make healthy choices.

— Weekly customer at Clifton Springs site

Total Curbside Nutrition Ed sites


The Garden Project

In 2015, Foodlink transformed a pair of “corner stores” into Community Stores. We connected Stop One Meat Market at 352 Jay St. and T&K Fresh Corner at 479 Carter St. with grant funding to improve the stores’ infrastructure, develop new branding, and expand the supply chain for healthy foods. The first year was full of challenges and successes. Though T&K is currently looking for new ownership, Stop One is now a WIC-certified store that consistently carries fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, whole grains, and proteins. We look forward to new opportunities for collaboration that will result in an entire network of healthy Community Stores.

Gardeners work at Lexington Avenue Urban Farm.

The Garden Project’s footprint in Rochester continues to expand with more sites and larger harvests year over year. Foodlink has supported these local gardens and paired them with area food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to supply fresh, healthy produce for people in need.

Community Stores

Number of garden sites

Pounds of produce harvested

In addition to what Stop One now carries inside, they also host a Farm Stand, making fresh, healthy food even more accessible.

Urban Farm Stands Foodlink’s Urban Farm Stands partner with community-based organizations to provide healthy produce in neighborhoods that lack grocery stores or farmers markets. Farm Stand Partners: Bridges to Wellness, Jefferson Seventh-Day Adventist, 441 Ministries, Aenon Baptist Church, Cathedral Community Church, Project HOPE, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Faith, Hope, and Charity Worship Center, St. Mark’s and St. John’s Episcopal Church, Foodlink’s Community Stores


CURBSIDE MARKET LOCATIONS SALES PER SITE $56

$7,385 Range

FARM STANDS POUNDS OF PRODUCE SOLD PER STAND 804

3,504

COMMUNITY GARDENS POUNDS OF PRODUCE HARVESTED 21

2,869

PARTNER FARM LOCATIONS PRODUCE PURCHASE AMOUNT PER FARM $300

$100,216


AMOUNT OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTED THROUGH FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS

Dark Green Vegetables

(broccoli, spinach, kale, etc.)

15,515 pounds

Other Vegetables (green beans, cauliflower, cucumbers, etc.)

41,173 pounds

Apples & Pears 15,292 pounds

Red & Orange Vegetables

Eggs 6,392 pounds

(tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, etc.)

37,194 pounds

Starchy Vegetables

(potatoes, corn, etc.)

Berries 1,634 pounds

Melons, Citrus & Other Fruit 25,883 pounds

Stone Fruits

23,308 pounds

(Peaches, cherries, plums, etc.)

11,178 pounds

Community Partners Local Food Promotion Program

To find out more about Foodlink’s Food Access programs, contact: Mitch Gruber, Chief Program Officer | 585-413-4060 | mgruber@foodlinkny.org This report was conducted in collaboration with Collaborative Health Research, a Rochester-based firm that aims to provide meaningful, data-driven research for community organizations. Cover photo Š Erich Camping Photography

1999 Mt. Read Blvd. | Rochester, NY 14615 | 585-328-3380 | foodlinkny.org


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