Fair Food Network

Fair Food Network is looking for experienced professionals to join our growing finance and impact investing teams. If you are passionate about growing community health, wealth, and resiliency through food, while advancing your career, please consider applying to one of our open positions:

Senior Grant Accountant
Investment Manager (Two positions)
Portfolio Manager

These positions offer a fulfilling work environment at a supportive and entrepreneurially-driven organization. Please see our website for full job descriptions and application details: fairfoodnetwork.org/careers

Careers | Fair Food Network Grow the Good with Fair Food Network.

What difference can local fruits and vegetables make?

Since 2009, our work furthering nutrition incentive programs in our home state of Michigan has shown the positive ripple effect we can make when we improve access to healthy food. Today, we share what we learn with our partners to create similar positive change in communities nationwide.

With the help of programs like Double Up Food Bucks here in Michigan, families with low household incomes can bring home the fresh fruits and vegetables they need and want. In turn, local farmers and food retailers have more economic opportunities, and more dollars keep circulating in our communities.

See the win-win-win benefits of nutrition incentive programs in our latest impact report. fairfoodnetwork.org/2023impact/ -incentives

In our home state, our partners at Michigan Farmers Market Association host a special series of farmers markets at the Michigan Capitol Building. Each event offers a thriving marketplace that showcases Michigan-grown or made food products for our state decision-makers and elevates the importance of supporting farmers, ag-based businesses, and farmers markets.

If you're in Michigan, we hope to see you at this year's events on July 23, August 27, and September 24! Plan your visit and learn more: mifma.org/for-shoppers/farmers-markets-at-the-capitol

Farmers Market at the Capitol July 18, August 15, and September 19, 2023

This just in: the Year 4 Impact Findings Report is live! See the demonstrated impact of nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects nationwide. Did you know? Participants in both these programs eat more fruits and vegetables than the average adult.

We're proud to support the GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information (NTAE) Center, led by the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact.

Dig into the report to see how GusNIP is enhancing food security and community well-being across the country: https://nutritionincentivehub.org/resources/gusnip-ntae-y4-impact-findings.

🌟✨ Exciting News from GusNIP! 🥕🍅 The Year 4 Impact Findings is LIVE!

In 2022–2023, an $82.1M USDA NIFA investment fueled GusNIP's expansion, resulting in a record $52.1M redeemed for fruits and veggies—the highest in 4 years! 💰🥦 This included $38.7M for Nutrition Incentive (NI) and $34.4M for Produce Prescriptions (PPR), showcasing a major investment in food as medicine initiatives. 🍏🩺

Participation in NI and PPR projects boosted fruit and veggie intake and food security for at-risk individuals, while generating a whopping $107.4M in local economic impact! 🌱💼 With 80 new awards and 4,612 outlets nationwide, GusNIP is making waves! 🌊

"It's inspiring to witness the positive trend in incentives redeemed and economic impact," says Amy Yaroch, project director at NTAE. 🌟 Year 4 also saw a net increase in outlets, a 69.3% redemption rate, and a 25% boost in local economic impact! 📈🌎

"These impacts validate the transformative power of NI and PPR programs," says Holly Parker from Fair Food Network. 🌟 Let's keep building healthier communities together! 💪🍎

Explore the findings at the link below!
https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/gusnip-ntae-impact-findings

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture .

Last month, our staff convened for a three-day retreat in our home city of Detroit. As a national nonprofit, our team members from across the country stopped in to meet with some of our incredible partners here in Michigan:

Growing Hope – a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening and supporting the local food system in Ypsilanti, Michigan through its demonstration urban farm, farmers market, and home gardening and food entrepreneurship programming.

Peaches & Green – community-based produce market and mobile truck serving Detroiters.

Detroit People's Food Co-op – a Black-led and community-owned grocery cooperative improving access to healthy food and food education to Detroit residents.

Make Food Not Waste – a nonprofit organization working to keep food out of landfills and slow climate change by creating lasting solutions to food waste through education, food upcycling, and advocacy.

Unity Vibration Kombucha – a Michigan-based kombucha business and the nation’s first hard kombucha brewer.

While the concept of “food as medicine” is gaining momentum, 90% of Americans still fail to eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. For people struggling with food insecurity – fresh produce is often out of reach.

produce prescription and nutrition incentive incentive programs, like Double Up Food Bucks, have been proven to help families using SNAP eat more fruits and vegetables than the average American. However, there is unmet need for these programs across the country.

Read more about how lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are advocating for more support for GusNIP fruit and vegetable incentive programs in the next Farm Bill: desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/iowa-view/2024/06/22/farm-bill-food-medicine-access-nutrition-double-up/74151302007/

"It's a win for families to be able to take home more fruits and vegetables. It's a win for the local economy, because we're putting the dollars right back here into our communities.” During , our associate director of Double Up Food Bucks Michigan, Cassidy Strome, joined FOX 17 at Fulton Street Market in Grand Rapids to discuss how Double Up can help shoppers using EBT bring home Michigan-grown fruits and veggies. Learn how the program works at local farmers markets:

Eating healthy made easy: The Double Up Food Bucks program could help your family get fresh food Michigan's Double Up Food Bucks assistance program is helping hundreds of thousands of families access more fresh food for less money

“More than 45 million pounds of healthy food has been brought home by Michigan families participating in Double Up Food Bucks. This translates to over $73 million in sales for Michigan farmers and retailers, benefiting over 800 farmers and serving over 230,000 Michiganders."

Our Chief Strategy and Program Officer Holly Parker joins Flint Farmers' Market Karianne Martus and Mid-Michigan NOW to discuss how our Double Up Food Bucks Michigan program is a triple win for local communities: midmichigannow.com/news/local/double-up-food-bucks-program-doubles-fresh-produce-for-michigan-families #

Double Up Food Bucks Program doubles fresh produce for Michigan families A non-profit initiative called Double Up Food Bucks is doubling the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables for families using Bridge Cards.

As we celebrate 15 years of Double Up Food Bucks in our home state of Michigan, we’re also celebrating some of the Double Up champions that help sustain this critical community resource. People like Chef Jun Won and Victoria Rose, the dream team behind Jun(e) (W)one Day, an annual community fundraiser based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. This year, they selected Fair Food Network as the beneficiary of this incredible event, and raised over $2K to help us continue supporting vibrant communities in Michigan and beyond through food. We are so grateful for their support and kind words!

Are you a champion for healthy communities, too? See how you can support our work at FairFoodNetwork.org/SupportDoubleUp.

Our CEO Kate Krauss's op-ed in the Detroit News underlines that when families have to choose between buying healthy food and paying an electricity bill, it's a stark reminder of the challenges our communities face. Our Double Up Food Bucks program has been running in Michigan for 15 years. It provides an essential community resource for families who want to buy healthy, affordable food while boosting support for farmers and local economies.

detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2024/06/10/krauss-boost-support-for-double-up-food-bucks-program/74041944007/

Krauss: Boost support for Double Up Food Bucks program A recent analysis shows that people who participate in nutrition incentives like Double Up eat more fruits and vegetables compared to the average American, while improving their food security.

In our latest From the Field blog, Holly Parker discusses how we can increase food security in communities through continued support of programs like Double Up Food Bucks Michigan. Fair Food Network is celebrating its Double Up Awareness Week in Michigan, now until June 16.

Michigan Legislature Can Increase Food Security through Continued Support of the Double Up Food Bucks Program Michigan Legislature Can Increase Food Security through Continued Support of the Double Up Food Bucks Program

Michiganders and farmers benefiting from SNAP programs According to the Fair Food Network, more than 230,000 people were able to buy healthier foods last year because of the Double Up Food Bucks Program.

Fair Food Network is grateful for Bank of America's partnership and support of the Michigan Good Food Fund and its collaborative efforts to provide Detroit community food and farm businesses with financial resources, technical assistance, and pathways to help their business grow. To date, Michigan Good Food Fund has supported 102 business with financing and/or business assistance in the city — this includes more than $2.7 million in investments.

“Detroit is a hub of food and culture in our state. We look forward to helping more entrepreneurs in the city grow their food and farm businesses — helping to nourish their community and contribute to the vibrancy of the city,” says Kate Krauss, CEO at Fair Food Network. “We appreciate Bank of America’s generous award and continued support of Michigan communities.”

The grant is part of Bank of America's philanthropic giving efforts in local communities. Awardees were selected for their commitment to Economic Mobility addressing health and jobs. Fair Food Network is the administrative manager of Michigan Good Food Fund, working alongside a network of lenders and technical assistance providers across the state.

"We try to do the right thing as business owners by growing food that's clean and taking care of our employees and building up their benefits so those jobs are attractive."

Kristen Muehlhauser of Raindance Organic Farm is an inspiring example of a small business that's helping to boost its local economy by providing nourishing food, good jobs, and keeping more dollars flowing in the local food system. Learn more about how communities in one Michigan county are creating a supportive environment for more farmers like Kristen to grow - via Second Wave Media: secondwavemedia.com/concentrate/features/farmgrowth0721.aspx

Farms are growing in Washtenaw County even as they decline nationwide. Here's why. A decline in food-producing farms has continued in Michigan for many years since the '50s, but the trend reversed in Washtenaw County starting around 2012.

On Saturday, June 1 in Ann Arbor, we’re partnering with local chef Jun Won for a Fair Food Network fundraiser at York Food & Drink. Chef Won will be serving up delicious homemade Korean food for a $10 suggested donation per plate.

Proceeds from this fundraiser support Fair Food Network’s efforts to help ensure everyone has access to healthy food, economic opportunities, and local food and agriculture systems that can sustain us all.

If you’re not in Michigan or can’t make the event and want to get involved, learn more and pledge your support at fairfoodnetwork.org/june-wone-day

Organizations across Michigan and our nation are working together to build a more resilient and equitable food system. And it starts with supporting local food producers.

Watch this informative video from our partners at W.K. Kellogg Foundation about the shortcomings of our current food system and how we can work together to improve health outcomes, racial justice, environmental sustainability, and economic justice. Promoting policies and practices that support this innovative work is at the core of what we do. Learn more: fairfoodnetwork.org/what-we-do

Video: How we're transforming food systems | Every Child Thrives This animation explains our vision for transformed food systems in which all stakeholders can thrive.

We are encouraged to see momentum toward a bipartisan , prompted by the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) release of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act that lays a roadmap for finalizing this important piece of legislation by the end of the year. This proposal expands and improves the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program ( ) that funds fruit and vegetable incentive programs across the country – helping to meet the critical need for families who need and want to bring home healthy food that is so often out of reach. Read more about this proposal and what it can mean for your community.

Fair Food Network Applauds Senate Farm Bill Proposal to Expand and Improve Access to Healthy Food in Michigan and Across the Country Fair Food Network Applauds Senate Farm Bill Proposal to Expand and Improve Access to Healthy Food in Michigan and Across the Country

We agree, Melanie Stewart and Elizabeth Del Buono. There is great potential in the next to improve programs that are helping increase healthy food access and support the health and well-being of families across the country.

-funded nutrition incentive programs help bolster SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) to help families access the fresh fruits and vegetables they need and want, and that are so often out of reach for them. According to a recent report by the Nutrition Incentive Hub, people who participate in nutrition incentive programs (that work with SNAP), like our Double Up Food Bucks Michigan program, eat 26% more fruits and vegetables compared to those who don’t.

Read more on this topic in this Bridge Michigan op-ed:

Opinion | Farm bill imagines a sustainable, equitable, healthy food system | Bridge Michigan The federal farm bill has been the subject of contentious renegotiations. At stake are two important provisions that support a healthy climate and community.

Congratulations to the winners of the Michigan Good Food Fund Business Pitch Competition: Sweet Lee’s Teas , Sticky Spoons Jam, LLC and Guac and Roll! It's inspiring to see these three local food businesses shine.

Since its earliest pilot program in 2008, has proven to be a successful public-private partnership that has expanded healthy food options for families and sparked economic opportunities for farmers and communities nationwide. Check out this new map by Nutrition Incentive Hub that shows ALL GusNIP fruit & vegetable programs making a difference in communities across the country.

"It turns out that, when local government and private businesses and community foundations are really invested in creating a liveable food system, it really works."

Our CEO Kate Krauss talks to Second Wave Media about how Washtenaw County, Michigan has a unique combination of intentional investment from private and public sources that are helping small family farms thrive at a time when the rest of the country is experiencing a continued loss of food-producing farms.
https://bit.ly/3Ubs065

Farms are growing in Washtenaw County even as they decline nationwide. Here's why. A decline in food-producing farms has continued in Michigan for many years since the '50s, but the trend reversed in Washtenaw County starting around 2012.

The first-ever Food is Medicine Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill kicks off this Wednesday, April 10, hosted by the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University. Our policy team is looking forward to gathering with food leaders and elected officials to share more about how fruit and vegetable incentive programs can provide access to affordable, nutritious foods that can help prevent, manage, and treat diet-related illness.

Food is Medicine Advocacy Day (April 10, 2024) - Food is Medicine The 2-day summit will bring together healthcare leaders, clinicians, community and advocacy organizers, investors, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and patients with lived experience to share and highlight advances, best practices, challenges, and next directions in Food is Medicine.

"The conversation around hunger has shifted. We think about the issue less as food insecurity but as nutrition insecurity."

Our Director of Policy, Alex Canepa, joined Planet Detroit and New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative to discuss how our Double Up Food Bucks Michigan nutrition incentive program increases healthy food access in our home city. Inspired by Planet Detroit's recent series on social determinants of health, this hour-long virtual Q&A session featured other experts from The Detroit Food Policy Council and Trinity Health Advocacy.

youtu.be/9iNshKIQLQU?feature=shared&t=639

Detroit: Our Environment, Our Health: Part III: How we Eat Nina Ignaczak of Planet Detroit leads an important discussion on healthy food access in Detroit and how it impacts your health. Learn about the challenges an...

Michigan Good Food Fund has awarded nearly $150,000 in grants to local food entrepreneurs through the inaugural Seed Awards. Check out the 11 winners, each one an incredible Michigan-based business committed to racial equity, healthy food access, job creation, and/or climate resilience.

As administrative manager of Michigan Good Food Fund, Fair Food Network proudly worked alongside members of the Michigan Good Food Fund Stakeholder Board to launch the Seed Awards. We'd like to extend a special thank you to Tony Vu, Daniel Cornelius, Jerry Hebron, Ana Jose, Jamie Rahrig, Adrienne Wolf, and Aaron Jackson for their support.

“We have to work along the whole value chain to create a regional system that is sustainable because our food system is incredibly fragile.”

For a decade, Rosemary Linares and her husband and co-owner of Damian's Craft Meats, Damian Rivera, have been working to launch a slaughterhouse and processing facility in Michigan to help fill the gap of USDA-inspected meat processing options in their region. They aim to support local farmers and equitable job creation in their local community and improve the supply chain for high-quality, local meat products.

Learn more about the vision for Damian’s Craft Meats and how Linares and Rivera are creating an impact on their regional food system.

From Crisis to Equity: Reinventing the Meat Industry for Resilience and Justice From Crisis to Equity: Reinventing the Meat Industry for Resilience and Justice