Enhance equitable access to fresh fruits and vegetables

Rationale: Ensuring that a food outlet that is located nearby has policies or programs designed to increase the affordability of fresh produce supports improved nutrition among underserved populations, contributing to reduced risk of chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with the below:

Food Equity (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. Identify a minimum of one healthy food outlet that is located within the project boundary or within a 1/2-mile or 800-meter walking distance of the project boundary.
2. Ensure that the identified food outlet uses a minimum of one of the following qualifying programs or policies to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible and/or affordable for all occupants within the project:

• a community farm, farmers market, food hub, community kitchen, or food cooperative
• government food subsidies (such as Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) payments or food vouchers) that are accepted at local grocery stores and farmers markets
• food assistance initiatives that subsidize the purchase of fresh produce (such as SNAP incentives, produce prescriptions, social supermarkets)
• subsidies for crop share programs or community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares
• school nutrition programs (such as school fruit and vegetable distribution, edible school gardens, family cooking classes).

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated maps
• Certified Statements