Advancing Ideas for Farmers Market Incentives

Barriers, Strategies, and Agency Perceptions from Market Managers

Authors

  • Cody Gusto University of Florida
  • John M. Diaz University of Florida
  • Laura A. Warner University of Florida https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2784-6666
  • Paul Monaghan University of Florida

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.022

Keywords:

Barriers, Farmers Markets, Food Access, Market Managers, Nutrition Incentives, Personal Agency, SNAP, Low-income Consumers

Abstract

Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks program provides incentives to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries to redeem fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at select farmers markets. Policy-makers and practitioners designed the program to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for limited-resource families while stimulating the local economy by supporting purchases from local farmers. While evidence suggests that related incentive programs improve access to nutritious food, there is currently little research regarding farmers market managers’ perspectives and experiences regarding program adoption and use, despite the critical role played by managers in administering the program. Using data collected from semistructured phone interviews with market managers, we applied a component of the Integrated Behavioral Model to explore the barriers managers face in engaging with limited-resource consumers at their markets through the Fresh Access Bucks program. Additionally, we explored managers’ perceptions of their ability to administer and market the program effectively through strategic interventions. Results indicate that market managers’ perception of their ability to administer the program was hindered by the following external environmental factors: bureaucratic limitations; availability of locally eligible producers and growers; organizational structure and funding support; and transportation and physical access. The following strategic efforts influenced manager perceptions of their ability to administer the program: risk-taking and experimentation; loyalty, trust, and relationship-building with vendors; cultivating market experiences; and strategic coordination with partner organizations. These find­ings have implications for improving outcomes for similar nutrition incentive initiatives at farmers markets.

See the press release for this article. 

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Author Biographies

Cody Gusto, University of Florida

Graduate Assistant, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

John M. Diaz, University of Florida

Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

Laura A. Warner, University of Florida

Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

Paul Monaghan, University of Florida

Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

Published

2020-05-19

How to Cite

Gusto, C., Diaz, J., Warner, L., & Monaghan, P. (2020). Advancing Ideas for Farmers Market Incentives: Barriers, Strategies, and Agency Perceptions from Market Managers. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9(3), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.022