Making Markets More Accessible to Low-Income Communities

The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) has released the results of a new study aimed at understanding how to "get more healthy food into...communities through farmers markets."

1 minute read

February 25, 2013, 2:00 PM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Produced with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and in partnership with Columbia University, "Farmers Markets as a Strategy to Improve Access to Healthy Food for Low-Income Families and Communities" [PDF] examined eight markets across the United States that served low- to middle-income communities to understand "what market characteristics successfully attract low-income shoppers."

Two of the researchers' most critical findings were that price was not perceived to be a barrier to potential customers and that "[s]hoppers need better access to information about schedules and seasonal changes in order to become more regular market shoppers."

Recommendations for creating "more effective, engaging farmers markets" include:

  • Positioning markets in locations that give the appearance of one-stop shopping
  • Knowing your shopping demographic
  • Partnering with neighborhood organizations to facilitate outreach efforts 
  • Expanding marketing and outreach to local consumers to educate them about the location, time, and acceptance of SNAP and WIC benefits

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 in PPS Placemaking Blog

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