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Increasing Access to Farmers Markets in Milwaukee County

Collaborating to expand access to fresh, locally grown food for low-income Milwaukee residents

Full Project Name:Increasing Low-SES Consumer's Access and Use of Milwaukee Farmers Markets to Improve Produce IntakePrimary Community Organization:Fondy Food CenterPrimary Academic Partner:Leslie Ruffalo, PhD, Family and Community MedicineAward Amount:$183,073
Award Date
July2015
Project Duration:30 months

Project Description Narrative:


Access to fresh and healthy foods is critical to good health. Seeking to transform farmers markets across Milwaukee County, project partners will build a coalition aimed at policy and procedure development, staff and volunteer training, and awareness building to increase federal benefit (SNAP, WIC, FMNP) redemption by low-income consumers at area farmers markets and to create a cultural shift that results in a wider diversity of citizens accessing farmers markets.

Through the implementation of coordinated practices, partners will increase access to and utilization of farmers markets by building capacity of markets to serve low-income consumers and attract diverse clientele with the long-term impact of increasing produce intake within Milwaukee communities.

Community partners: Amaranth Bakery, Aurora, Brown Deer Farmers Market, Campus Kitchen projects, Center for Urban Population Health, Columbia St Mary's, CORE/El Centro, Cudahy Farmers Market, Delafield Farmers Market, Farm Fresh Atlas SE Wisconsin, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin-Farmlink, Fondy Food Center, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Greendale Downtown Market, Greenfield Farmers Market, Greenfield Health Department, Groundwork MKE, Harambee Great Neighborhood Initiative, Hunger Task Force, Institute for Urban Agriculture & Nutrition, Jackson Park Farmers Market, Lisbon Market at Amaranth Bakery, Medical College of Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee Urban Gardens, Port Washington Farmers Market, Shorewood Farmers Market, South Shore Farmers Market, TRIUMPH/UW-Madison, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, Urban Economic Development Association, UW-Extension and FoodWISE, UW-Extension (Waukesha County), UW-Extension (State), Victory Garden Initiative, Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:


  • Increased the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP/EBT beginning the 2017 summer season, launching at the Jackson Park Farmers Market, Shorewood Farmers Market, Brown Deer Farmers Market, and Amaranth Bakery (Lisbon Market)
  • Documented an increase in SNAP sales at Milwaukee County farmers markets by 8 percent from 2016 to 2017 ($108,095 spent), for a total of a 25% increase since the project launched in 2015
  • Project partners presented at the American Public Health Association annual meeting

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