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April 22 marks the 52nd Earth Day celebration since 1970. This year’s Earth Day asks all of us to “act boldly, innovate broadly, and implement equitability.” We believe that choosing to be a part of a more resilient food system while ensuring that food access is equitable is a pretty old act. Below are a few resources that you can share with your customers in celebration of Earth Day:Save The Food contains multiple resources to reduce food waste that includes a “Guest-Imator” that estimates how much food you need for a dinner party. Our favorite is their Cooking with Food Scraps Recipes such as using up zucchini stems, strawberry tops, and potato peels.
The FoodPrint Quiz is a great educational tool for families that asks questions about your knowledge on food waste, food literacy, local & seasonal sourcing, worker welfare, animal welfare, and meat consumption to determine your foodprint.
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Are You Ready for Market Season?
The market season is approaching and we want to ensure that your SNAP/EBT program is successful. Below are 5 of our favorite resources to guide you through your own marketing strategies:
Steps 5 and 6 of the FMC SNAP Guide for Farmers’ Markets provides accounting and marketing tips that are also helpful for direct marketing farmers. Make sure you're listed on the USDA's National Farmers Market Directory USDA's On-Farm Market Directory and USDA's National CSA Directory. If you are already listed, make sure your contact and service information are correct. Consider listing your farm or farmers market in the Food Market Maker directory to connect with growers and buyer. The New York SNAP to Market Resources & Materials webpage contains great marketing resources for your SNAP/EBT customers. Our favorite is the “How to Shop at the Farmers Market” brochure available in both English and Spanish. This Token 101 for Shoppers and Token 101 for Vendors created by the Portland Farmers Market are great references if you are thinking of using a token system at your farmers market.
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Save the Date - The National Association for Farmers Market Nutrition Program Annual Conference Is Back in Town
We’re excited to announce that this year’s NAFMNP Annual Conference will be back in person in Indianapolis, Indiana from September 27-30th, 2022. The conference will include USDA panels, networking opportunities with state agencies, and discussions on the future of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs including the Seniors (SFMNP); Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) programs. The conference will convene both members of the NAFMNP and non-members - join us!
Registration information and cost to attend are currently in development. We will let you know as soon as information is available.
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Farmer Spotlight: Hawkfield Manor | |
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This month we’re sharing the work of Hawkfield Manor, a small regenerative family farm in rural North Carolina that sells wholesome, healthy food products to their local community and the Triangle Area. The Hawkfield’s use of mob grazing over the span of six years brought back native grasses, better soil, and higher yields than neighboring fields even to this day. | |
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We know Spring time calls for Spring stories but we couldn’t help squeezing one last wintry story about the Hawkfield’s special “Family Farm Day” when everyone stops their usual routine to help out with farm duties. On chilly days where farm tasks need more hands on deck, the family packs eight mugs and a carafe full of hot chocolate for “hot chocolate service.” Heather explains that “Sometimes it's stacking wood, burning brush piles, putting up a fence line, clipping sheep hooves, or tidying up the shop...regardless, it's not always going to mean that the job gets done faster or more efficiently. Rather, it builds our family unit, encourages each other, breaks up the monotony of daily life.” Thank you Heather and the Hawkfield Manor for sharing a bit of your wisdom with us. Here is their testimonial in working with MarketLink: | |
“We have had an incredible experience working with Market Link, and we recommend them to all of our farming friends. There are so many of our customers that want to support their local farmers and producers, and accepting EBT cards has been an incredible opportunity for them to do just that while enjoying the nutritional benefits AND knowing their food has come from humane and regenerative practices. We are excited for another year of being able to offer this to our customers, and work with Market Link. They couldn't be more helpful, available, or supportive!"
Check out our Instagram account for more photos from the Hawkfield Manor! | |
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If you enjoyed this month’s spotlight and want to share your story and testimonial, please send photos and stories to news@marketlink.org or send us an email to schedule an interview. To be featured, please send us the following:
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Introducing SNAP-EBT Electronic Incentives with MarketLink and Novo Dia Group
Tuesday, April 19 from 10-11 am PDT/ 1-2 pm EDT
Join the Farmers Market Coalition and MarketLink for a webinar covering the budding world of SNAP-EBT Electronic Incentives.
See what MarketLink and Novo Dia Group have built for electronic incentives - the TotilPay Incentive Management System (TIMS). This solution provides an administrative portal for issuance and works with a digital wallet for the redemption of electronic benefits by participants. This webinar will provide a walkthrough of the system, as well as a demo of how an electronic incentive benefit transaction will work. Come to learn what we've been working on as well as to have your questions answered about this innovative new solution that is now available!
Click here to register.
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Meet Amy Crone, MarketLink's Project Manager!
To the MarketLink team, Amy is a real life Helen Parr or Mrs. Incredibles from The Incredibles. | | | |
Amy is a nationally recognized expert on federal nutrition assistance programs, was the founder and Executive Director of the Maryland Farmers Market Association (MDFMA), an entrepreneurial farmer, and a mother.
Amy's roots are in Maryland, where she grew up and returned back to after living in a variety of states and countries. She lives on a small, diversified farm just south of Annapolis with her husband and two children. | |
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MarketLink is a program of the National Association of Farmers Markets Nutrition Programs (NAFMNP). ©2022 MarketLink
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