11-03-2022 Parks_Rec Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT MARKETING Staff marketed the Farmers Market in a variety of ways. The Market Manager/Recreation Coordinator posted to Facebook at least once each Monday as a reminder for the Market. As a reminder, the Little Canada Farmers Market has its own Facebook page! From this account, Staff also created an event page that sends reminders on Market days. Staff also handed out flyers to local businesses, schools (to promote the Power of Produce Club), apartment complexes, and senior living centers. Facebook interactions varied, but the average number of interactions per post was about 250, with a high of 1,202. NineNorth created an updated promotional video to add to the City’s website, which highlighted the vendors, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with electronic Benefit Transfer cards (a.k.a. SNAP/EBT), and the POP Club. SNAP/EBT This was the first year the City used $1 SNAP/EBT tokens. These tokens could be purchased from the City’s booth with a card reader that was obtained from Ramsey County through a grant. Tokens could be used to purchase fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, honey and maple products, jams, jellies, pickles and sauces, baked goods, seeds, and plants that produce food. Staff would like to thank Ramsey County, especially Franny Clary-Leiferman, for their assistance in receiving grant funds to introduce SNAP/EBT to the Market. This funding allowed Staff to purchase wood tokens, a sandwich board and banner with Market Bucks information, and other necessary equipment. The City wanted to utilize SNAP/EBT at the Market to promote equity and create a more accessible market reducing barriers. Everyone must have access to fresh, local food! Staff also applied to receive Market Bucks and Produce Bucks from Hunger Solutions: “Hunger Solutions Minnesota works to end hunger in our state. We take action to assure food security for all Minnesotans by supporting programs and agencies that provide food to those in need…”- hungersolutions.org. Because of this partnership, the Little Canada Farmers Market was able to triple SNAP/EBT users’ Farmers Market spending (up to $10). Example: A visitor could purchase $10 worth of EBT Tokens. Staff would then add $10 Market Bucks and $10 Produce Bucks to their total spending, giving them an additional $20 to spend on farm-fresh staple foods. Market Bucks can be spent the same way a SNAP/EBT token can be spent, and Produce Bucks can only be spent on fresh fruits or vegetables. Overall, we had 88 SNAP/EBT transactions this season, which equaled $910 in SNAP/EBT tokens, $668 Market Bucks, and $670 Produce Bucks ($2,248 in total). Not only do our SNAP/EBT transactions positively impact our visitors, but this also is a great source of revenue for our vendors (see Graph 1). The Market Manager received a lot of positive feedback from visitors who used SNAP/EBT, and even some who do not. Many hoped the City continues to distribute SNAP/EBT, and the partnership with Hunger Solutions.