healthy food access | Ecology Center

Ecology Center Awarded $3.7 Million Grant from USDA to Expand Statewide Program That Supports Farmers & Feeds Families

April 1, 2015 by Ecology Center

[Press Release] Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Ecology Center in Berkeley, California will receive one of the USDA’s first ever Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grants, totaling $3.7 million over two years. The grant will help to expand Market Match, California’s healthy food incentive program to additional farmers’ markets and other outlets… Read more »

California Bill Could Dramatically Increase Market Match’s Scope!

March 3, 2015 by Ecology Center

Exciting developments are afoot in Sacramento: thanks to the advocacy efforts of the Ecology Center, Roots of Change, Public Health Institute, and Latino Coalition for a Health California, the California Nutrition Incentive Act (AB 1321) was introduced on Friday by Assemblymember Phil Ting. Coauthored by Rob Bonta, Lois Wolk, Marc Levine, and Henry Perea, the… Read more »

Market Match Program Grows with the Power of Partnerships and a New Website

February 3, 2015 by Ecology Center

Today, the Ecology Center is launching our new Market Match website, MarketMatch.org. This new mobile compatible website informs shoppers, funders, partners, and the general public about the Market Match program. It builds support for the program, and it assists shoppers in locating the nearest CalFresh-accessible farmers’ market, including those that offer Market Match. Established in… Read more »

Healthy Food Access at Farmers’ Markets Is Making Huge Strides Nationwide

August 19, 2014 by Ecology Center

According to the national Farmers’ Market Coalition, $16.6 million in SNAP benefits were redeemed at farmers’ markets nationally in 2013. That’s a sharp increase from $4.2 million just five years ago. The number of farmers’ markets is also on the rise. If these trends continue, it could mean good changes for what’s on the plates… Read more »