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18May 2022

Take a Fresh Look at your Farmers Market!

May 18, 2022 Latest News 0 Comment

We at TCLF understand the importance of supporting the Texas food system. This means ensuring the economic vitality of local producers and promoting the entities that help them sell their products. With the Fresh Look at your Farmers Market program or SNAP Fresh Look, we are taking a strategic approach to increase SNAP sales of local producers at farmers markets across Texas. In the past, Texas SNAP sales at farmers markets have been astronomically low and we are working hard to change that.

Our efforts include:

  • Partnering with farmers markets that already accept SNAP and those that are working towards accepting SNAP. We provide them with one-on-one technical assistance to increase SNAP sales at their markets and help transition them to become SNAP authorized.
  • Developing regional marketing campaigns with support from Texas-Mexico Border Coalition and Grow North Texas. Our goal is to generate more awareness about farmers markets that currently accept SNAP and promote fresh fruits and vegetables by Texas producers to SNAP users.
  • Creating educational online TXFED.org courses focused on SNAP at farmers markets. These courses offer insight from fellow farmers market organizers about how to broaden their consumer base and start the process of accepting SNAP.

To stay up to date on the Fresh Look at the Farmers Market program, check out our new SNAP at Farmers Markets/SNAP Mercado de Agricultores webpages. Here you will find links to our SNAP Fresh Look farmers market partners, resources for SNAP recipients and farmers market affiliates, and information about joining the SNAP Fresh Look program. 

Here are some recent social media posts welcoming our SNAP Fresh Look partners!

Bienvenido A SNAP Fresh Look with image of older man who is over 65 years old. Text says Grow Local Farmers Market Abierto Los Miercoles 5pm-8pm 100 W. Shoreline Blvd. Art Center of Corpus Christi. On the bottom left is a logo that says Texas Center for Local Food.
Welcome to SNAP Fresh Look. Contains 9 images with various vegetables, one picture of a turkey, and one of a woman around 30 years old. Text says Grow it 4 Dinner. @Growit4dinner @Ruralcitygurl Huntsville, Tx. Logo that says Texas Center for Local Food
Bienvenido A SNAP Fresh Look. There is an image of woman and man (late 20s to 30s) standing around trays of micro greens. In the image there is a signs that says microgreens pesto and pea shoots. Text states Elgin Farmers Market Abierto Los Jueves 4pm-7pm Veterans Memorial Park Elgin, Tx. Logo that says Texas Center for Local Food

22Apr 2022

TXFED.org Online Learning Platform: Year One Update!

April 22, 2022 Latest News 0 Comment
TXFED Logo

It’s been a year since the public launch of TXFED.org. We’ve achieved so much together in our first year of operations, and we’re celebrating:

  • 443 students served
  • 8 courses delivered with closed captions and Spanish subtitles
  • 13 collaborators
  • 42 content contributors
  • 4.6 star rating

TXFED.org is available through any Internet-capable phone, laptop, or desktop, 24/7. The courses are accessible for most learning types; they include closed captions, Spanish subtitles, and screen-reader-friendly downloadable activities and worksheets.

TXFED.org is a Team Effort

Along with the Texas Center for Local Food, 13 collaborating organizations, and 42 content contributors share their experiences in the field of food and marketing.

Free for a Limited Time!

8 courses are free for a limited time. Enroll today!

Celebrate with Us!

Help us build a robust local food system in Texas and sustain this one-of-a-kind learning platform.

Send TXFED.org a tax-deductible birthday gift today!

02Mar 2022

Online sales at Farmers Markets

March 2, 2022 Business and Financial, farmers market, Latest News 0 Comment

Howdy all! I participated today in a virtual tour of an online set up for farmers markets in northeast Iowa. The customers order and pay online, the group aggregates from the various producers and delivers at the farmers markets. The system is convenient for lots of shoppers and seems to work best for non-weekend markets when customers are more in a hurry. It’s a new project and the folks in Iowa are learning a lot and they’re happy to share. Check them out and be sure to tell them Texas Local Food sent you at Curbside Markets!

Curbside Markets – northeast iowa
31Jan 2022

TCLF at the TOFGA Conference

January 31, 2022 Community Development, farmers market, Food Systems, Latest News 0 Comment

The Texas Center for Local Food team joined our peers at the Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association conference in Georgetown, TX. We hosted the 1st annual Texas Network of Farmers Markets Meet Up, led 4 TXFED.org sessions in person, facilitated a Farmers Discussing Farmers Market panel, and distributed information at our booth. It was a great experience to meet with our current collaborators, network with potential partners, and better understand the needs of food producers and market organizers we serve. Our time at the conference has further motivated our mission to create more market opportunities for local food producers & offer technical support to increase the exchange of food & money within Texas.

03Jan 2022

Texas Hispanic Farmer & Rancher Conference

January 3, 2022 Latest News 0 Comment
Texas Farmer & Rancher Conference, over crops image

Direct Marketing & TXFED.org

At this year’s Texas Hispanic Farmer & Rancher conference on Wednesday, January 12, TCLF’s Sue Beckwith will share information about TXFED.org and other programs specifically developed to help farmers succeed and thrive.

The conference is free, virtual, and there are stipend payments available to qualifying producers.

Sue’s session begins at 3 PM on Wednesday, January 12. You’ll learn:

  • Successful social media and other digital marketing tactics to boost your sales
  • How to access online marketing, pricing, and business courses through TXFED.org — free
  • Other programs and initiatives available to help your farm or farmers market sell more local food to Texans, their families, as well as local businesses such as schools

See you there!

REGISTER NOW

17Nov 2021

New Farmers Market program expands access to fresh, local food

November 17, 2021 Buying Food, farmers market, Health, Justice, Latest News 0 Comment

ELGIN, TEXAS – The Texas Center for Local Food today announced a new project to promote the use of SNAP benefits at farmers markets in Texas.  

SNAP benefit recipients can use their SNAP cards to buy fresh, local food at farmers markets. But many recipients don’t know that – and farmers markets face multiple hurdles to accepting SNAP. 

In FY2020, Texas ranked 47th out of the 50 US states in SNAP sales at farmers markets. “Farmers markets are a critical link in the local food system, and lower-income families have access to fresh, local food — but too many don’t know it — yet!” said Sue Beckwith, Executive Director of the Texas Center for Local Food. Our new project will get more Texas-grown, farm fresh produce onto SNAP recipients’ tables.”

Promotion alone won’t increase sales to SNAP recipients. Farmers markets also need help setting up and using the equipment for SNAP processing. “The equipment required to process SNAP is different from normal card processing equipment. It requires its own setup and specialized training,” said Susie Marshall, Executive Director of Grow North Texas, a SNAP-ED project partner. “We provide technical assistance to help farmers markets adopt and use the equipment.”

family shopping at farmers market

Digital images are free for non-commercial, non-profit use. They are provided by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The 1-year grant of $439,951 is awarded and administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission using funds allocated to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service as part of the Farm Bill.

Another hurdle for farmers markets accepting SNAP are the costs of the equipment and processing. The Texas Center for Local Food also works to help farmers markets offset farmers markets costs not paid for by this grant costs using funds contributed by TCLF members. To become a member, or find out how to participate, please visit TexasLocalFood.org/Join-Us

The Texas Center for Local Food, based in Elgin, Texas, was created in 2016 by small farmers and ranchers to strengthen the economic viability of Texas communities and family farms through making the local food system economically stronger. For more information, visit TexasLocalFood.org or contact Sue Beckwith at sueb@TexasLocalFood.org.

Data Points & Sources

Based on FY 2020 & FY 2019:

  • On average 12.4% of Texans receive SNAP every month (1.6 million families).
  • Each month over $400 million dollars in SNAP payments are made in Texas.
  • The precentage of SNAP benefits redeemed at farmers’ markets is almost 0 (0.003%), ranking Texas 47th in the country.
  1. https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
  2. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/
  3. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/records-statistics/data-statistics/supplemental-nutritional-assistance-program-snap-statistics

 Sources

  • Family purchases food at a local farmers market. Credit (not required): Photo courtesy USDA SNAP-ED.  Digital images are free for non-commercial, non-profit use. They are provided by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
08Nov 2021

We’re hiring! Join our team!

November 8, 2021 Farm to School, Institutions, farmers market, Job Opportunities, Latest News 0 Comment

Hello food system folks!
Do people tell you that you’re pleasant to work with, competent, and a dedicated worker?  If so, then one (1) of our four (4) open positions in Texas may be a good match for you. All are full-time.  Please share with others too!

We have three (3) positions to support farmers markets across Texas to increase sales of Texas-grown fruits and vegetables to SNAP shoppers. These farmers market support positions are all remote and will require travel within Texas. Texas residents and those willing to relocate to Texas are preferred; (no relocation costs are paid.)

We have one (1) Education Specialist position to lead the Farm-to-Kids Texas after school program in Elgin, TX and support online course development for adult learners with TXFED.org. This position requires in person work in Elgin, TX and travel within central TX.

If you think we might be a good match together, please apply today!
https://apply.workable.com/texas-center-for-local-food/
We appreciate you sharing with colleagues.  Let’s keep building a stronger food system.

02Nov 2021

8 Phases of Every Communication

November 2, 2021 Latest News 0 Comment

My co-workers and I found or co-created this sequence in the 1990’s when we were facilitating workshops for child and youth program teachers and administrators. I do not know the source but find the awareness helpful in understanding miscommunication and the need to actively listen. 

– Jules Assata

  1. What the speaker intends to say
  2. What the speaker actually says; what words come out of their mouth
  3. What the receiver hears~ environmental influences on what gets heard (cars, wind, noises)
  4. What the receiver believes the speaker intended to say with their words ~ personal culture and bias influence what someone believes another person meant
  5. What the receiver intends to express in return
  6. The words the receiver actually says; what comes out of their mouth
  7. What the first person hears~ environmental influences
  8. What the first person believes the receiver intended to say with their words

At any point miscommunication may occur, which is why it is so important to;

Consider your words carefully before speaking

Understand how impediments and personal culture impact what others hear and what it means to them

Make sure you’ve actually heard the words the speaker intended to say~ active listening~ 

repeat back and check that you heard right

Make sure you understand the intention the speaker has for what they said~ active listening, 

“Did you mean…?”~ gives the speaker an opportunity to review, clarify, adjust

Give each other the benefit of the doubt; be sure you understand before responding, reacting

03Feb 2021

Anti-Oppression Session – A Beginning

February 3, 2021 Food Systems, Justice, Latest News 0 Comment

On January 19, 2021 the Texas Center for Local Food (TCLF) partnered with the Board of the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardners Association (TOFGA) to present a session on anti-oppression and anti-racism at the TOFGA annual conference. The session was presented by the National Conference on Community and Justice and was very well received by participants.

A shout out thank you to members of the Texas Center for Local Food anti-racism cohort 1 who continue to work to create an anti-racist food system in Texas, Skyra, Alejandra, Jules, and Adam. These individuals are taking personal risks to share their experiences and help us all learn.

Frankie Bayne, TOFGA Operations and Membership Manager, had this to say:

“The NCCJ training was one of the best attended sessions of the TOFGA annual conference. I had many attendees write or call afterward to express their gratitude and share how powerful the session was for them. For me, hearing the panelists’ share their personal stories about ways in which they are working to dismantle racism in their communities and spheres of influence was inspiring and gave me a lot to reflect upon in my own life and work in food and farming.” 

If you are interested in participating in education to create an anti-racist food system in Texas, please complete this form to express your interest.