NOURISH COLORADO

HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVES: IN 2024, DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS (DUFB) PARTNERED WITH 110 SITES ACROSS COLORADO TO SUPPORT SNAP SHOPPERS. PARTICIPANTS EARNED UP TO 20 PER DAY IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR COLORADO-GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND DRY BEANS. COLLECTIVELY, SHOPPERS REDEEMED NEARLY 1 MILLION IN INCENTIVES STATEWIDE. THIS YEAR ALSO MARKED THE LAUNCH OF THE COLORADO SNAP PRODUCE BONUS (CSPB) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CDHS. TO DATE, CSPB INCLUDES 41 FARMERS, 5 BRICK-AND- MORTAR RETAILERS, AND 36 DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER OUTLETS (FARMERS MARKETS, FARM STANDS, AND ON-FARM STORES). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SNAP SHOPPERS CAN RECEIVE UP TO 60 PER MONTH IN ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WHEN PURCHASING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING SITES. COLORADO NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: - DISTRIBUTED 225,000 IN FRESH PRODUCE BY DIRECTLY PARTNERING WITH 27 FARMERS AND AGGREGATORS. IN TOTAL, 111 FARMS WERE IMPACTED THROUGH DIRECT CONTRACTS OR AGGREGATOR PARTNERSHIPS. - SERVED WIC PARTICIPANTS AND OLDER ADULTS THROUGH 27 AGENCIES ACROSS 21 COUNTIES, INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN UTE AND UTE MOUNTAIN UTE NATIONS. - INVESTED OVER 340,580 INTO THE COLORADO FOOD ECONOMY THROUGH HYPERLOCAL FOOD PURCHASES. THE MAJORITY OF FOOD WAS GROWN AND DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE SAME OR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. - DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 63,546 POUNDS OF FOOD STATEWIDE. - OVER 80% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM.

NUTRITION FOOD EDUCATION: NOURISH COLORADO'S NUTRITION EDUCATION TEAM IMPLEMENTED STATEWIDE COOKING MATTERS PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIORS AND REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY AMONG SNAP-ELIGIBLE COLORADANS. PROGRAMMING COMBINED DIRECT EDUCATION, POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE STRATEGIES, AND TECHNOLOGY-BASED INNOVATIONS TO REACH COLORADO COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING URBAN, RURAL, FRONTIER, AND TRIBAL POPULATIONS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NOURISH PROVIDED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE COOKING MATTERS CURRICULA, ENGAGING MORE THAN 4,000 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS COLORADO. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS SUPPORTED HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES IN PANTRIES, RETAIL SETTINGS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT MAKING THE HEALTHY CHOICE WAS THE EASY CHOICE. EVALUATION TOOLS AND STATE REPORTING SYSTEMS WERE USED TO MAINTAIN PROGRAMS.