Dane County is fortunate to have dozens of local farm stands and farmers markets. However, income, transportation, and mobility barriers can render them inaccessible, especially for low-income seniors. The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) supports low-income seniors in accessing fresh produce by providing seasonal vouchers they can redeem at participating markets and farm stands. […]
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our local (and national/global) food system, it revealed and amplified weaknesses and inequities in our food system. It was clear that there was a critical need to strengthen our local and regional food system against future disruptions. In 2021, the Dane County Food Council with Dane County Extension’s Community Food […]
Situation: Low-income seniors who participate in the food access program known as the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) may face barriers in accessing traditional farmers markets. While Dane County distributes all their senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers annually, redemption of vouchers has been historically low in Dane County as compared to other counties across […]
Situation: Farm to school programs provide kids access to nutritious, high-quality, local food while creating market development opportunities for local farmers. Yet, not all local farmers have equal access to this economic opportunity. This is especially true of historically underserved farmers, a federal designation that includes Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); women; beginning […]
There are new challenges for individuals who historically have had low access to food. There are also emerging challenges for the broader community as citizens grapple with changes to the way they previously visited the grocery store and purchased food. This document serves to collect information related to food access for Dane County Households. Emergency […]
Creating a culture of health at conferences and meetings is one way to model wellness and encourage those we work with to eat healthy and be physically active. Claire Mance, Dane County Extension Healthy Communities Coordinator, has developed this guide to assist you in planning your own healthy meeting with foods and activities that are […]
Heavy rains and the flowing water that results can contaminate plants growing in the garden and create a food safety hazard. As floodwater moves into your garden, it can carry raw sewage overflow, farm and domestic animal waste, river or pond water, and agricultural run-off, all of which can be sources of human pathogens such […]
A research project evaluating the food environment in the village of Marshall, Wisconsin has led to the development of the Marshall Food Access Brief describing food access resources and opportunities for the village. The research was performed by two Area Health Education Center interns, Ummu Drammeh and Cynthia Venters, and supervised by Carrie Edgar, Community Food Systems Educator […]
