Program Manual 2017 Season 1
2017 Produce Plus Program Manual Table of Contents Definitions 4 1. Background 5 2. Produce Plus Program Goals 6 3. Eligibility to Participate 6 A. Distributors 6 B. Customers 7 C. Vendors 7 D. Eligible Products 7 4. Program Guidelines: Administrative Policies and Practices 7 A. Distributor Application Process 7 B. Distributor Responsibilities 8 i. Location & Hours 8 ii. Customers 8 iii. Data Collection 9 iv. Volunteers 9 v. Vendors 9 vi. Communications 10 vii. Legal Compliance 10 C. Data Collection 11 D. Monitoring 11 E. Exclusion from Further Participation 12 F. Protocol Breach 12 G. Reconciliation and Reporting 13 H. Proxies 13 I. Determining Dollar Amount Allocated to Each Distribution Location 14 J. Allocation of funds to distributor organizations 14 K. Produce Prescription Program 15 5. Participant Rights 15 6. Outreach 15 2
7. Volunteer Program 16 APPENDIX A: Produce Plus Application Rubric 17 APPENDIX B: Approved Racial Justice, Cultural Competency, and Conflict Resolution Trainings 18 APPENDIX C: Key Dates and Program Timeline 19 3
Definitions Farmers Market: A site with Produce Plus vendor(s) that has reliable and consistent hours of operation and is open to all members of the public to make purchases. Program Administrator: The organization or group tasked by the DC Department of Health to administer Produce Plus funds. Produce Plus Distributor ( Distributor ): An organization or business operating in DC approved by the Program Administrator to give Produce Plus funds directly to eligible DC residents. Customer: A DC resident, age 16 or older, who receives Medicaid, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (Medicare QMB), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Senior Grocery Plus, or SSI Disability. Produce Plus Vendor: A farmer producer approved by the DC Department of Health, or their designee, to receive WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) funds and Produce Plus funds. Easily Accessible: A location where customers are able to come and go freely without being impeded and where any member of the public is able to shop. Conflict resolution and cultural competency training: A workshop, approved by the Program Administrator that has as its goal to analyze institutional and societal patterns of oppression. Additionally any approved workshop will teach participants: how cultural values and biases may produce prejudice and discrimination; how cultural differences may drive conflict and conflict resolution; and provide participants with tools and skills to effectively assist manage, minimize, and resolve conflict. Racial Justice Training: A workshop, approved by the Program Administrator, that has as its explicit goals: to build a clear understanding of key concepts such as racial equity and structural racism; learn to talk about race constructively within their organization/business and with their customers; gain tools and practices for counteracting racial bias in your work and practices; and identify opportunities and next steps for applying concepts and strategies to advance racial equity. 1 1 https://www.raceforward.org/trainings 4
1. Background Produce Plus began in 2013 as a locally-funded nutrition incentive program for farmers markets administered by the DC Department of Health with the express goal of increasing the consumption of healthful, locally grown produce by low resource residents. This is accomplished by offering incentives and ensuring greater access to farmers markets for low resource DC residents. Produce Plus provides access to fresh produce for low-income DC residents who receive Medicaid, Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (Medicare QMB), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Senior Grocery Plus, or SSI Disability. Eligible DC residents are able to get $10 two times per week to spend on fresh produce. Produce Plus is unique in the country in that it provides nutritious food incentives to individuals who receive Medicaid in addition to those who receive food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC. This ties the program directly to improving the health of the population, while also supporting short-term access to nutritious food for those with little other access to it. For those individuals, food insecurity is closely linked to their level of risk for experiencing diet-related chronic illness. Further, individuals eligible to receive Produce Plus experience a high burden on their financial resources due to the high cost of housing (rent or own) in DC that takes up a disproportionate level of income relative to the national average. Produce Plus reached over 13,500 DC residents in 2016, with the possibility of reaching even more, demonstrating emphatically that lowincome DC residents want and need access to nutritious food choices in their neighborhoods. In January 2017, the Washington City Paper reported, In 2010, local organization D.C. Hunger Solutions released a Grocery Gap report showing Ward 7 had four full-service grocery stores for 73,856 residents and Ward 8 had three full-service grocery stores for 69,047 residents. Its latest data from 2016 reveal Ward 7 is down to two for all 70,064 residents and Ward 8 is down to one for all 78,686 residents. Roughly one in seven households in the District is food insecure, the group says. Worse yet, 26.6 percent of D.C. households with children can t afford enough food. A disproportionate number of these families live east of the river. 2 Given the depth of the food access disparities facing many DC residents, a coordinated 2 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/food/young-hungry/article/20850165/in-wards-7-and-8-feeding-thefood-insecure-is-a-team-effort 5
and multifaceted approach will best achieve the system changes needed in the District of Columbia. Produce Plus acts as an important tool in such an approach by both meeting an immediate need of DC residents to be able to buy nutritious food and tackling the more entrenched problem, the lack of access to robust retail spaces in which to purchase that food. 2. Produce Plus Program Goals For the 2017 season, Produce Plus aims to: Improve the viability of farmers markets selling fresh produce in communities with high poverty rates Increase access to fruits and vegetables for low-resource DC residents Increase community participation and investment in neighborhood markets 3. Eligibility to Participate For the 2017 Season, only distributors, customers, vendors and products that meet the criteria below will be allowed to participate in the program. A. Distributors Must be a farmers market, easily accessible 3 to the public, that sells fresh produce in an area of DC that has more than 10% of the residents who receive SNAP (Note: In order to avoid the possibility of self-dealing, individual farm stands must partner with a separate entity to distribute Produce Plus funds in the market space during market hours. Examples of separate entities include a recreation center or senior wellness center; DC Greens Farmers Market Brigade; or a service providing organization.). Distributors are required to attend conflict resolution and cultural competency training and racial justice training. Distributors may not use Produce Plus as the sole funding mechanism for their market. All Distributors will be required to demonstrate that Produce Plus does not account for the sole revenue stream for their market and, if Produce Plus is currently more than 75% of their market s revenue stream, that the organization is actively working towards Produce Plus accounting for 75% or less of the market s revenue stream. To that end, distributors will submit as part of their application to distribute Produce Plus an outreach plan that has as its goal ensuring that Produce Plus is not more than 75% of the revenue stream for their market. The plan must include benchmarks and an anticipated timeline to achieve the goal. 3 Easily accessible is defined as a location where customers are able to come and go freely without being impeded and where any member of the public is able to shop. 6
B. Customers Must be DC residents who receive SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Medicare QMB, TANF, SSI Disability, and/or Senior Grocery Plus. Produce Plus is a first-come, first-served program. Due to limited funding, eligibility does not guarantee that customers will be able to participate. C. Vendors Must be a grower authorized through the DC Department of Health to accept WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks as well as Produce Plus funds. Vendors are required to receive conflict resolution and cultural competency training, as well as all required FMNP trainings. D. Eligible Products Only fresh, locally sourced fruit and vegetables, cut herbs, and mushrooms may be purchased with Produce Plus funds. Please refer to the authorized DC FMNP food list for guidance (Appendix D). 4. Program Guidelines: Administrative Policies and Practices A. Distributor Application Process Interested market organizations are required to submit an application to participate in Produce Plus. Organizations that receive approval will be approved for a threeyear period. Annually all approved organizations will be required to demonstrate that they continue to meet program requirements. The Program Administrator will make the application form available by March 15th of each year. Applicants will be notified within 30 days about the outcome of their application. The Program Administrator will review all applications (see Appendix A for Application Rubric). Applicants must meet all program requirements in order to be approved. Any applicant who receives approval to be a Produce Plus Distributor, must subsequently attend a conflict resolution and cultural competency training and racial justice training provided by the Program Administrator or another organization approved by the Program Administrator prior to being able to distribute Produce Plus funds. Any applicant that fails to complete mandatory trainings will have its approval status as a Produce Plus Distributor revoked. A list of approved trainings is included in Appendix B. Distributors may request to attend a training not on the approved list. Applicants who do not meet the program requirements are encouraged to reach out to the Program Administrator. The Program Administrator will work with unsuccessful applicants to: 1. When eligible, encourage the applicant to become an approved Produce 7
Plus Vendor; and then to 2. Identify a distribution location they might be able to join as an additional Produce Plus Vendor. 3. Unsuccessful applicants may submit a written appeal to the Program Administrator. Appeals must be submitted within 10 days of status notification to the applicant. All appeals will be shared with the grant manager at the DC Department of Health and final determination of all appeals will be made by the DC Department of Health. B. Distributor Responsibilities The Distributor is responsible for upholding the following responsibilities: i. Location & Hours The Distributor shall operate or be partnered with a farmers market within the District of Columbia and have a fixed schedule of days and hours of operation for the duration of the Produce Plus Program season, June 1st through September 30th. The Distributor will only issue Produce Plus funds at approved locations. Produce Plus funds must be given out at (or in very close physical proximity to) an approved market during market hours. The Distributor shall notify the Program Administrator of any change in location and hours prior to the change taking effect and preferably with at least 72 hours notice. ii. Customers Produce Plus funds must be distributed directly to either an eligible customer or their proxy (see section H). Produce Plus funds must be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Distributors may not hold checks for specific customers. Distributors must be equal opportunity providers and ensure that their vendors are equal opportunity providers, meaning that the distributor will assure that no person on the ground of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical ability be excluded from participation in, is denied the benefits of or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the distributor or any of their vendors receives Produce Plus or other local District of Columbia funding. All Distributors should use best practices to provide customers who receive Produce Plus with a positive experience at their distribution location. Best practices include: - Use of a numbering system for customers waiting in line to receive Produce 8
Plus - Robust recruitment of volunteers from neighborhood customer base - Establishing partnerships with community organizations to provide cooking demonstrations and market tours for customers who are eligible to receive Produce Plus - Welcoming SNAP-Ed cooking demonstrations - Encouraging vendors to offer samples and clear signage about pricing that allows customers to easily calculate how much they will be spending on products Distributors, market staff, volunteers, and customers are expected to follow the rules set by farmers markets for all persons within a market space. Distributors reserve the right to enforce the rules and protocols of their farmers markets with all customers. Market rules and protocols must be made accessible to all customers. iii. Data Collection Produce Plus funds must be distributed using technology and materials provided by the Program Administrator, including a tablet, membership cards, and, where applicable, a wireless hotspot. (See Section C for more on Data Collection). iv. Volunteers In partnership with the Program Administrator, the Distributor will identify staff or help recruit volunteers to serve as the individuals physically managing the distribution of funds to eligible customers. The Program Administrator will provide training to all Distributor staff and volunteers as to how to properly distribute Produce Plus funds. Only individuals, who have received training from the Program Administrator, or their designee, are approved to distribute Produce Plus funds. Individuals found in violation will no longer be allowed to distribute Produce Plus funds until such time as they receive training from the Program Administrator, and the associated Distributor will receive a formal written warning. Volunteers must be treated with respect, and given support from the Distributor (supports include a chair, table, pens, and fully charged tablet and wireless hotspot). Volunteers should be sited in the shade to register and give Produce Plus funds to customers. The Distributor will assist DC Greens in recruiting Farmers Market Brigade volunteers by displaying recruitment flyers supplied by DC Greens (when possible), issuing calls for volunteers digitally, and referring interested individuals to DC Greens. (See Section 7 for more on the Volunteer Program). v. Vendors The Distributor acknowledges that all potential vendors must first apply and be 9
accepted into the DC Farmers Market Nutrition Program run by the DC Department of Health. Authorized DC FMNP vendors (farmers) will be adjunctively eligible for the Produce Plus Program. This means that there will not be a separate vendor application process for Produce Plus. The Distributor shall ensure that eligible vendors have received the proper approvals from state and local agencies in order to receive Produce Plus Program funds. The Distributor shall ensure that each vendor accepts Produce Plus Program funds as payment for fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, and mushrooms only. These products must be offered at prices set at or below the lowest prices offered to any other customer. Prices must be clearly displayed to customers. The Distributor acknowledges that its vendors shall not collect sales tax on Produce Plus Program purchases. The Distributor shall ensure that each vendor displays prominently the provided sign stating that Produce Plus funds are accepted at the vendor s stand. vi. Communications The Distributor will mention the DC Department of Health and the Program Administrator in any press inquiry, press release, or public presentation related to Produce Plus and will check with the Program Administrator prior to the publication of any press inquiry, press release, or public presentation. vii. Legal Compliance Distributors must file a report with the Metropolitan Police Department and notify the Program Administrator if checks, tablets, wireless hotspots, or other equipment provided by the Program Administrator or its representatives are lost or stolen. The police report must be submitted to the Program Administrator before any additional checks are given to the Distributor. A Distributor who commits fraud or abuse of Produce Plus is liable for prosecution under applicable District laws. The agreement signed between the Program Administrator and Distributor is nontransferable. Any change in ownership or sale of the business by the Distributor will render the agreement between the Distributor and the Program Administrator null and void. 10
C. Data Collection 1. All Distributors must comply with data collection protocols, which include maintaining provided tablets in working order for all market days, operating tablets off of provided wireless hotspots, and bringing tablets into the Program Administrator s office for updates, as needed. 2. Distributors must keep tablets and wireless hotspots charged. 3. Distributors must connect tablets to the Internet within 12 hours before and, if Internet connectivity was a problem, 12 hours after their approved distribution time. 4. If the technology fails at any time during the season, the Distributor must use the provided paper register sheets to record customer information; including, first name, last name, membership ID number, date, and check numbers. 5. If a Distributor uses paper register sheets they must contact the Program Administrator in writing by the end of the day that the register sheets were used. 6. The Distributor is required to enter all data recorded on a paper register sheet into the Produce Plus app within 72 hours of the problem date. 7. If the Distributor needs support to accomplish this, they should contact the Program Administrator within 24 hours of when the problem occurred. The number of tablets a Distributor is issued will be based on the criteria listed below including, but not limited to, amount of checks to be distributed, ability of a market organization to share equipment between its own markets, and expected number of customers to be served. 1. Distributors will be expected to return all program equipment, including tablets, wireless hotspots, and corresponding charging cables by October 31, 2017. 2. If equipment is lost or broken, the Distributor must let the Program Administrator know within 24 hours of occurrence or as soon as possible. 3. The Program Administrator will work with the Distributor to replace lost or broken equipment. In cases of gross negligence 4 the Distributor will be responsible for replacing lost or broken equipment. Produce Plus data that could be used to identify a customer directly, their first and/or last name, is property of the DC DOH. To this end, all paper register sheets must be returned to the Program Administrator and may not be copied by a Distributor. D. Monitoring The Program Administrator will conduct site visits, both announced and unannounced, at distribution locations throughout the Produce Plus season. All 4 Gross negligence is defined as a lack of care that demonstrates reckless disregard for the equipment, which is so great it appears to be a conscious destruction or loss of the equipment. 11
Distributors must agree to site visits by Program Administrator and/or DOH staff, or their proxies, to ensure that they are complying with all program protocols. The Program Administrator shall provide written feedback after each visit. The report shall note at a minimum, all areas needing improvement based on noncompliance with established procedures and protocols. The Distributor shall agree to a corrective action plan and timeline. The Program Administrator will make up to two more site visits in an attempt to confirm successful resolution. Failure to continually follow protocols and procedures will result in progressive corrective or adverse action that could result in the Distributor being excluded from further participation in the program. E. Exclusion from Further Participation The Program Administrator reserves the right to review the status of any Distributor that is consistently not meeting program requirements. Approved Distributors must comply with all program requirements as set forth in this manual and addenda over the course of the PPP season. As noted in the Monitoring section of this manual, the Program Administrator will provide technical assistance to the Distributor in an effort to achieve a successful resolution when issues are noted. Failure to continually follow protocols and procedures will result in progressive corrective or adverse action that could result in the Distributor being excluded from further participation. In the case of an exclusion from further participation in the program, all outstanding checks and program materials must be returned to the Program Administrator within 15 days. See Protocol Breach section below for a list of possible issues that could trigger a written notice. F. Protocol Breach The following is a list of possible breaches that could result in a written notification or warning from the Program Administrator. This list is not exhaustive - all Distributors are expected to comply with all program requirements laid out in this document. If a Distributor receives a written notice from the Program Administrator, the issue must be remedied, regardless of whether it appears on this list: 1. Distributor is not set up at the time/location advertised to the public 2. Distributor discriminates against or bars from participation customers on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, and/or disability. 3. Failure to distribute checks on a first-come, first-served basis 4. Distributor does not provide adequate equipment for volunteers, including chairs, table, tent or other shade, charged tablets, and/or charged wireless 12
hotspots 5. Distributor refuses a site visit 6. Distributor hands out more checks than their weekly, agreed upon allotment (see sections I and J) 7. Distributor does not sync data on tablets within the specified timeline, thereby disrupting the flow of data between markets 8. Distributor is found to be committing fraud of any kind with checks 9. Failure to display necessary signage related to the program 10. Failure to transfer any data captured on a paper register sheet within the specified timeline 11. Failure to meet eligibility requirements G. Reconciliation and Reporting The Program Administrator will track funds through their full cycle from the moment they are allocated to a Distributor until a vendor deposits the funds. Distributors must provide a record for what happened to all Produce Plus funding given to them. To do so, all Distributors will be required to use approved program equipment and tools to ensure that a record is created along each step of the process. Distributors will also be required to provide data on the percentage of total market revenue that Produce Plus accounted for at the end of the Produce Plus season. This number should be disaggregated by farmers market. The Program Administrator will provide regular reports to Distributors on the program status; aggregated analysis of program results; and access to raw data for the Distributor s site(s) that does not specifically identify individual customers. The Program Administrator will comply with grant requirements laid out by the DC Department of Health; to include ensuring proper reconciliation of all funds, as well as, monthly, quarterly, and final reports to the DC Department of Health about program progress and results. H. Proxies Individuals who are eligible to receive Produce Plus may designate a proxy to pick up Produce Plus funds and spend those funds on their behalf. A proxy may be set up at the time of initial registration as a customer in the program, or at any other time during the season. A participant may designate up to two (2) proxies, the person(s) designated to be a proxy must be at least 16 years of age. To set up a proxy, a customer must provide the first and last name of the person they would like to be their proxy. In order to receive Produce Plus funds as a proxy, the individual must already be registered as a proxy for that specific customer in the Produce Plus app before coming to pick up checks at a distribution location. 13
The individual must show their own photo ID and the membership card for the specific customer for whom they are a proxy. An individual can only be set up as a proxy for a maximum of two Produce Plus customers. A Produce Plus customer may set up a proxy for any reason. Each customer is still bound by the program limitations for the amount of funds an individual may receive each week. I. Determining Dollar Amount Allocated to Each Distribution Location The Program Administrator will determine the dollar amount allocated to each Distributor for each distribution location. The determination process will take into account: 1. Past distribution, if applicable 2. Level of need at the distribution location (e.g. percent of the residents in proximity to the distribution location who are eligible to receive Produce Plus) 3. Number of vendors approved to accept Produce Plus funds at the distribution location 4. Amount and variety of produce available for customers to purchase 5. Whether Produce Plus funds are being distributed at another site in close proximity 6. Ensuring funds are distributed throughout the entirety of the Produce Plus season (June 1 - September 30) across all eligible parts of the city The Program Administrator reserves the ability to adjust the amount allocated to a distribution location while the season is in progress. The Program Administrator may only do this based on: 1. A specific breach of Produce Plus procedures 2. An increase in funding to the program 3. At least 4 weeks in which a distribution location is unable to give out their allotted Produce Plus funds J. Allocation of funds to distributor organizations Distributors will receive Produce Plus funds from the Program Administrator at least monthly. Distributor will be required to demonstrate a security plan for the funds both at the distribution location(s) and while funds are stored between distribution times. Distributors may only distribute the predetermined, approved dollar amount of funds each week. This is to ensure that a) Produce Plus funds last from June 1 - September 30 and b) customers have a clear expectation each week when they come to shop at the distribution location. Any Distributor that distributes more than their set amount of funds in a given week may be subject to progressive corrective or adverse action including exclusion from further participation. Note that a distributor may distribute more than their predetermined, approved weekly amount if there is a prior week(s) where fewer than their allotted amount of funds were 14
distributed to customers and the additional amount distributed makes up for checks that would have been distributed in the previous week. K. Produce Prescription Program The Program Administrator also runs the District s Produce Prescription Program (formerly known as the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program or FVRx), whereby qualifying patients receive prescriptions from their doctors for free fruits and vegetables. Some Distributors may be eligible to participate in the Produce Prescription Program (Produce Rx or PRx), depending on their proximity to participating health centers. The Produce Rx Program has a separate program manual, which details the procedures and responsibilities associated with that program. 5. Participant Rights Distributors must be equal opportunity providers and ensure that their vendors are equal opportunity providers, meaning that the distributor will assure that no person on the ground of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical ability be excluded from participation in, is denied the benefits of or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the distributor or any of their vendors receives Produce Plus or other local District of Columbia funding. Materials explaining Produce Plus and program eligibility will be provided in multiple languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, French, Amharic, Korean, and Vietnamese. 6. Outreach The Program Administrator will provide a robust outreach program that includes inperson outreach to new and returning Produce Plus customers; updates on program implementation and changes; a website for the public that reflects program administration and rules; materials that advertise where funds can be received and spent; and technical assistance for Distributors and distribution locations to develop outreach and marketing plans. The Program Administrator is able to provide support to Distributors in sharing outreach materials/flyers with potential customers. The Program Administrator and Distributors will collaborate on establishing an outreach schedule to most efficiently and effectively advertise distribution locations, markets, and special events to potential customers. The Program Administrator will support Distributors, as needed and requested, to develop new community partnerships with local businesses and service providers to provide the most responsive and impactful program for customers eligible to receive Produce Plus. 15
7. Volunteer Program DC Greens will offer a volunteer program, called the Farmers Market Brigade. The goal of the Farmers Market Brigade is to strengthen and support community ownership of farmers markets while supporting the implementation of farmers market nutrition incentive programs in DC. The Program Administrator and Distributors will work together to identify volunteers to lead and support giving out Produce Plus funds at distribution locations, data collection and entry for Produce Plus. The Farmers Market Brigade will create a more streamlined experience for low-income District residents receiving Produce Plus funds and reduced burden on market staff to administer Produce Plus. 16
APPENDIX A: Produce Plus Application Rubric Yes No Is the applicant a farmers market or stand that sells fresh produce? Is the farmers market easily accessible 5 to the public? Does the farmers market have set, recurring open hours and location for the duration of the Produce Plus season? Will Produce Plus funds be distributed during those set open hours and location? Is the farmers market located in a ward of the city where more than 10% of the population receives SNAP (Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8)? 6 Does the applicant have other sources of revenue for the market in addition to Produce Plus, or a clear outreach plan to increase other revenue streams to at least 25% of total market revenue over time? Does the applicant have an outreach and marketing plan that targets an economically diverse customer base? Is the applicant able to secure Produce Plus funds at the point of distribution and between distribution times? Does the applicant have the staff capacity to implement 7 Produce Plus? Does the applicant or their partnered farmers market meet minimum stocking requirements? 8 5 Easily accessible is defined as a location where customers are able to come and go freely without being impeded and where any member of the public is able to shop. 6 The Department of Health reserves the right to include markets that are operating in Agency-identified pockets of high need within wards 2 and 3 as Distributors. 7 Staff capacity to implement is defined as an organization with staff who have the ability to manage a large influx of customers, answer volunteer questions, and effectively resolve any conflicts that may arise 8 Minimum stocking requirements are defined as a farmers market with a variety of at least 10 different items and the ability to serve at least 50 customers each week with a goal to be able to serve at least 100 weekly. 17
Does the applicant have the capacity to meet growth in customer demand over time? APPENDIX B: Approved Racial Justice, Cultural Competency, and Conflict Resolution Trainings April 11: DC Farmers Market Collaborative Racial Justice Training (all costs covered) April May: DC Farmers Market Collaborative will offer a second Racial Justice Training (date TBA, it will be an evening training, all costs covered) Undoing Racism from the People s Institute for Survival and Beyond (http://www.pisab.org/news-events/workshop-calendar) Race Forward (https://www.raceforward.org/trainings) 18
APPENDIX C: Key Dates and Program Timeline The calendar for the 2017 Produce Plus Season is as follows (all dates are subject to change): March 6: Distributor applications are made public (applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis) March 24: Final day to submit application to become a Produce Plus Distributor April 5: All applicants are notified about their status April 11: Racial Justice Training April - May: Racial Justice Training (second date TBA, it will be an evening training) May 8 and 11: Required Distributor Training May - August: Volunteer trainings provided by Program Administrator June 1: Program start date TBD 9 : Program end date TBD 10 : Last day for vendors to deposit checks December 15: Produce Plus final report is released and data is provided to Distributors 9 The Program end date will be finalized and announced before the season begins on June 1. The date will be some time between September 15 30. 10 The last day for vendors to deposit checks will be finalized and announced before the season begins on June 1. The date will be between September 30 October 10. 19
APPENDIX D: DC WIC AND SENIOR FMNP FOOD LIST Eligible food choices include all locally grown varieties of the following foods: Fruits and Vegetables: 27. Edible gourds (all 1. Apples (all) varieties) 2. Apricots 28. Greens (all) 3. Artichokes 29. Jute Leaf 4. Asparagus 30. Jamma Jamma 5. Beans (fresh, all) 31. Kohlrabi 6. Beets 32. Leeks 7. Berries (all) 33. Lettuce (all) 8. Bok Choy (all) 34. Melons (all) 9. Broccoli (all 35. Microgreens (all) varieties) 36. Mushrooms (all) 10. Brussels Sprouts 37. Nectarines (all) 11. Cabbage (all) 38. Okra 12. Carrots 39. Onions (all, 13. Cassava Leaves including ramps 14. Cauliflower and shallots) 15. Celery 40. Parsnips 16. Celeriac 41. Paw Paw 17. Cherries (all) 42. Peaches (all) 18. Collard Greens 43. Pears (all) 19. Corn (all) 44. Peas (all) 20. Cucumbers 45. Peppers (all) 21. Currants 46. Plums (all) 22. Eggplants (all, 47. Potatoes (all) including the 48. Purslane ethnic and 49. Quince specialty food 50. Radishes (all) varieties) 51. Rhubarb 23. Fennel 52. Rutabagas 24. Figs 53. Spinach (all) 25. Grapes (all) 54. Squash (all, 26. Ginger (all, including including pumpkins) Galangal, 55. Sunchokes Turmeric, 56. Swiss Chard Cardamom) 57. Tomatillos 58. Tomatoes (all) 59. Turnip roots and greens Herbs 1. Basil 2. Bay laurel 3. Borage 4. Caraway 5. Catnip 6. Chervil 7. Chives 8. Cilantro 9. Dill 10. Garlic 11. Lemon verbena 12. Lavender 13. Lemongrass 14. Lemon balm 15. Lovage 16. Sweet marjoram 17. Mint (all varieties) 18. Nasturtium 19. Oregano 20. Parsley 21. Rosemary 22. Sage 23. Salad Burnet 24. Savory (all varieties) 25. Sorrel 26. Tarragon 27. Thyme 20