Dear Partners,
As we embrace the sunny days and blossoming of spring (with the occasional winter storm!), we’re excited to present the latest issue of Dig In! In this edition, we are thrilled to share some exciting updates about the latest healthy eating initiatives happening right here in Colorado! From the launch of the innovative SNAP Produce Bonus program to the unveiling of valuable resources for nutrition education and healthy food access, there’s plenty to get excited about. As spring is a season of transition, we also have some key updates about the recent challenges presented during 2024 legislative session. Join us as we dive into the latest developments and chart our course for the year.
Happy Spring!
Nutrition Education
The Nutrition Education team is continually supporting new and existing partners with implementing Cooking Matters programming alongside Policy, Systems, and Environmental changes (PSE). We’ve updated the Nourish website to highlight our SNAP-Ed work with direct nutrition education, and to show all of our current partnerships. We will continue to update the site as we add partners. We’re looking forward to hosting a partner convening and new partner facilitator training in April. We’re currently focusing on how we can support more implementing partners in the Denver metro area with our train-the-trainer model. We’re offering facilitator training, free curricula, data/evaluation support, and technical support. We’re also working with partners to offer free food skills education messaging, food pantry toolkits, and other PSE supports.
While Cooking Matters was previously under the ownership of Share Our Strength, it has recently transitioned to the Food Trust. We eagerly anticipate seeing how they will continue to support, develop, and evaluate curricula in the future. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting development!
Nutrition Incentives
Exciting news for SNAP participants across Colorado! The new healthy incentive program known as Colorado’s SNAP Produce Bonus, (previously “eHIP”) is being piloted statewide. This innovative initiative is set to reimburse eligible participants up to $60 per month directly onto their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards for purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Nourish Colorado’s SNAP Electronic Incentives Manager, Anjali Prasertong, and Emma Kett, EBT and Incentives Project Administrator at the Colorado Department of Human Services, are at the helm of this program’s rollout. Anticipated to launch in Summer 2024, the program will debut at two farmers markets and an expanded network of retailers. Leading the transition from paper-voucher-based systems to the convenient electronic system of the Produce Bonus are Backyard Markets’ three locations in the Colorado Springs area and the Larimer County Farmers Market in Fort Collins. March saw vendors at these markets meeting with USDA agents at special one-day events to gain SNAP authorization on the spot. In the weeks ahead, participating farmers will receive complimentary equipment and technical training, enabling them to accept EBT cards seamlessly.
The Produce Bonus team is actively collaborating with current Double Up Food Bucks retail partners and other interested retailers to implement necessary point-of-sale technology updates. Watch out for updates on brick-and-mortar retailers offering this innovative program as it rolls out statewide. Stay tuned as Colorado’s SNAP Produce Bonus Program revolutionizes access to fresh, nutritious foods for individuals and families across the state!
Nourish Colorado’s Healthy Food in Institutions Team is thrilled to announce their new Colorado Local School Food Program Guidebook! The Guidebook is an online resource for School Meal Operators, Agricultural Producers who want to sell to schools, and for Teachers, Students, and Community members who want to support their local school meal program. It provides insights and tools for launching, implementing, and sustaining farm to school programs.
It is full of custom-designed resources based off a decade plus of working side-by-side with School Meal Operators, listening to their needs, leading trainings to support their efforts, and now, turning that training content into tangible and digestible resources. We also spent years working closely with Agricultural Producers around the State to better understand their needs when it comes to accessing School Market Channels. Everything in this website is a direct representation of these deep relationships and the best part is – we have the ability to continually add content and links to other resources! Currently – we are adding Spanish versions of every resource.
Healthy Food in Institutions
We also want to thank our funders who supported the launch of this website. Instacart played a key role in bringing this website to life and without their support this website would not be what it is today. We are so grateful for their investment, partnership, and commitment to healthy food access! Additionally, the support from Rose Community Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, and Donnell-Kay Foundation ensured we could dedicate staff time to creating the resources and all of the content.
Finally – more great news! Thanks to the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger’s Healthy School Meals for All grant, we’re thrilled to announce that every resource will be translated into Spanish! This initiative aims to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all Spanish-speaking communities. Keep an eye out for more updates on this important endeavor.
We genuinely hope you enjoy looking around on the website, using the resources as they apply to you, and sharing with your connections! Thank you all for your continued dedication to transforming our food system!
Farm & Food Policy
The policy team has been steadily focused on the state legislative session since it began in January! Nourish is running two state bills this session:
If it passes, the Healthy Eating Incentives Program bill will make the Healthy Food Incentive Fund (HFIF) a permanent program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The HFIF funds produce incentive programs such as Double Up Food Bucks and produce boxes for WIC families and older adults.
We are co-leading the “time to eat pieces” of the Time to Eat and Play bill, HB24-1301,with Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger. If passed, the bill would create a task force of students, parents, teachers, cafeteria staff, food service directors, school board members, and others. The task force would study best practices, barriers, and opportunities of extending school lunch periods and develop recommendations to ensure that students have enough time to eat their high-quality, nutritious school meals.
Nourish is also focusing on identifying solutions to Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) budget challenges. The Local Food Program (LFP), which incentivizes schools to purchase local ingredients for school meals and provides technical assistance to schools and farmers, is set to expand statewide in August 2024 through HSMA. However, due to HSMA costing much more than expected and its high budget shortfall, LFP is at risk of being paused. Our team is leading advocacy to avoid a pause in the program. Learn more about LFP through Nourish Colorado’s LFP Guidebook!
Our team has grown! Welcome to Anjali Prasertong, Bradley Barrow, Christina Olguin Hoffman, and Congrats to Jesse Hulling!
Read the full bios of our growing team of talented and passionate people at nourishcolorado.org/about.
Event Opportunity
Team Nourish and The Denver Colfax Marathon 2024
This year Nourish Colorado is participating in the Denver Colfax Marathon Charity Partner Program. We have a group of staff, friends, family, and newcomers joining our team to fundraise, raise awareness, and run on the weekend of May 18-19 to support Nourish.
Here’s how you can support this new endeavor:
Join the Team: We would love to have you as part of Team Nourish. To register, visit www.runcolfax.org and select Nourish Colorado as your charity partner.
Make a Donation: Click on the link below to visit our team’s fundraising page and make a secure donation. No amount is too small, and every contribution directly supports Nourish Colorado.
Spread the Word: Share our fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks.
Together, we can raise awareness and support for building equitable food systems!
Cheer Us On: If you’re available on race day, we would love to have you there cheering our team members on from the sidelines. Your encouragement means the world to us!
Thank you so much for considering supporting our run for Nourish Colorado. Questions? Reach out to Christina at christina@nourishcolorado.org with any questions about this event.
