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LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	05/07/2015
Subject: AB 1321 (Ting) Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program
Submitted For:	LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Department:	County Administrator
Referral No.:	2015-10
Referral Name:	AB 1321 (Ting) Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program
Presenter:	L. DeLaney	Contact:	L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

Information

Referral History:

This bill was referred to the Legislation Committee by Agricultural Commissioner Chad Godoy.

Referral Update:

Assembly Bill (AB) 1321 would establish the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program in the Office of Farm to Fork, and would create the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account in the Farm to Fork Account to collect matching funds received from a specified federal grant program and funds from other public and private sources to provide grants under the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program and to administer the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program.

Status: 03/23/2015 To ASSEMBLY Committee on AGRICULTURE.

Background: The California Market Match program was launched in 2009 to encourage low-income families receiving nutrition benefits to purchase fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. The program “matches” or doubles the amount of nutrition benefits these families can spend and has expanded operations to over 140 farmers’ markets across California and increased the spending power of 37,000 families.

The program benefits low-income families and local farmers. Studies have demonstrated that Market Match increases redemption of CalFresh and other nutrition benefits at participating markets from 132% to 700%, and generates a six-fold return on investment in farmers’ market sales. As a result of Market Match, 69% of farmers report that they have new shoppers and 67% of farmers report that they earned more income.

Strong demand for Market Match often outstrips available funding for the program. However, the 2014 federal Farm Bill included $100 million in grant funding for programs such as Market Match that incentivize healthier eating amongst SNAP recipients. In order to best position local programs to receive these federal grants, AB 1321 creates a state Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program to apply for federal funds and award them to local Market Match programs with a proven record of success. Establishing a state framework to oversee funding of Market Match programs would leverage state resources to streamline local program administration, and expand Market Match programs across a more equitable cross-section of communities that lack access to fresh produce.

California is uniquely positioned to benefit from greater proliferation of programs such as Market Match. California grows over 400 commodities and produces nearly half of US-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables. We have approximately 700 certified Farmers’ Markets and 2,200 certified producers. We also have a large persistent poverty problem to solve. 24% of Californians live in poverty and we rank 50th in the rate of participation in SNAP. Scaling up Market Match programs would create an incentive for more families to utilize their SNAP benefits and ensure more Californians can afford to eat what we grow.

Specifically, this bill would enact the California Nutrition Incentives Act, creating the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program within the Office of Farm to Fork at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The program would award grants to certified farmers’ markets that double the amount of nutrition benefits available to low-income consumers when purchasing California fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables. The program would also allow up to one-third of grant funds to be awarded to small businesses that provide such matching nutrition incentives, in order to reach low-income Californians residing in food deserts with limited access to farmers’ markets. Grants would be prioritized in disadvantaged communities with a high prevalence of diabetes and obesity to ensure a focus on expanding access to fresh, healthy food.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

CONSIDER recommending a position of "Support" to the Board of Supervisors for AB 1321 (Ting): Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program.

Attachments
Bill Text
Fact Sheet