Strengthening nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects: An examination of a capacity building and innovation fund

Sarah Stotz; Hollyanne Fricke; Carmen Byker Shanks; Megan Reynolds; Tessa Lasswell; Laurel Sanville; Rachel Hoh; Courtney Parks

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2024.132.016

Authors

Sarah A. Stotz Colorado State University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4107-3313
Hollyanne Fricke Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition
Carmen Byker Shanks Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition
Megan Reynolds Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition
Tessa Lasswell Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition
Laurel Sanville Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6769-4049
Rachel Hoh Fair Food Network
Courtney A. Parks Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2024.132.016

Keywords:

nutrition financial incentive, produce prescription program, funding needs, capacity building, food insecurity, innovation, technical assistance center, U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Abstract

The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is a federal program designed to address financial barriers to fruit and vegetable (FV) purchases among consumers with a low income by using financial incentives. To further strengthen both nutrition incentive (NI) and produce prescription (PPR) GusNIP projects, the GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE) and its Nutrition Incentive Hub offer Capacity Building and Innovation Fund (CBIF) awards to GusNIP grantees and their partner organizations. The present study applies multiple methods to systematically understand the types of resources requested by CBIF applicants to expand the capacity and impact of their NI and PPR projects by rigorously analyzing the CBIF proposals submitted from 2020 to 2022. Applicants (N = 130) requested funds to build capacity and innovation around one or more domains: leadership and staffing (n = 72); communications (n = 67); diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI; n = 57); and technology (n = 42). Three significant qualitative themes emerged around future needs: (1) staffing and technology to streamline applicants’ projects; (2) training, resources, and funding to enhance DEI in their projects; and (3) improved NTAE support, including improvements to the CBIF funding mechanism. Findings from this study can increase awareness about the capacity building and innovation needs of NI and PPR projects for the NTAE, policymakers, and funders to consider when supporting healthy food financial incentive projects.