AN EXPLORATION OF FARMERS’ MARKET TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Produce Perks Midwest (PPM) seeks a contractor to complete an exploration of farmers’ market (markets) technology solutions. The goal of this contract is for an individual/company to conduct a market analysis of software and mobile technologies available to farmers’ markets, catalogue existing technology infrastructure used by Greater Cincinnati area farmers’ markets, conduct 3 interviews each with market managers, market SNAP consumers, market non-SNAP consumers, and market vendors, and develop recommendations for further exploration and development of nutrition incentive/online ordering platform solutions. Total available project budget is $15,000.

Produce Perks, Ohio’s Nutrition Incentive Program, empowers recipients of SNAP benefits to purchase fresh, healthy, fruits and vegetables from local farmers and grocery retailers. Produce Perks provides consumers shopping with SNAP a $1-for-$1 match to buy fruits and vegetables, increasing affordable access to healthy foods for the 1.3 million Ohioans receiving food assistance benefits, supporting Ohio farmers, and strengthening local economies.  The program is available in 30 Ohio counties at over 100 farmers’ markets and grocery stores (and growing).  In 2021, over 28,000 individuals made over $1 million in healthy food purchases through the Produce Perks program.

Background

Technology platforms have been used for years at markets, mostly to collect market metrics and perform Point-Of-Sale card swiping functions. The most common platforms used among Cincinnati area markets are card readers, as either a separate terminal or as a software on a smart device, and FM Tracks (an iOS-based platform) the data collection software utilized by markets within the Produce Perks Nutrition Incentive Program. In recent years, and as a result of the pandemic, markets have expanded their use of technology to include online ordering platforms, with varying degrees of success and longevity of use. Additional research is needed to better understand the needs and level of interest among market stakeholders in utilizing technology.

PPM holds a vision of implementing digital incentive technology to support SNAP consumers in utilizing the Produce Perks program and more conveniently managing their fruit and vegetable incentives. In 2022, national online SNAP technology pilots will allow farmers’ markets to accept SNAP for online ordering.  Research on these pilots should be considered in market analysis to better prepare PPM and partners to further develop software solutions for farmers’ markets and nutrition incentive programming.

Scope of Work

Market Analysis

Complete research on existing platforms available to farmers’ markets, new technology, and compile into a report documenting key features of each software.

Catalogue Existing Technology

Create survey and complete with Greater Cincinnati area market managers, gathering information about current platforms being used, how they are used, and pros and cons experienced by managers. Prepare a report outlining findings.

Stakeholder Interviews

Create surveys and conduct at least 12 interviews: three (3) with market managers, three (3) with market vendors, three (3) with SNAP farmers’ market shoppers, and three (3) with non-SNAP farmers’ market shoppers. Goals of interviews will be to determine if and how each stakeholder desires to use technology in the farmers’ market shopping/selling experience, and how each stakeholder feels about potential incentive technology and online ordering.

Project Meetings

Attend/lead at least 20 hours of project meetings with PPM and partners. Contractor will keep detailed notes of project meetings and submit with final report.

Recommendations

Prepare a final report of recommendations for next steps in development of incentive/online ordering solutions (with and without incentive technology) for farmers’ markets, utilizing research and interview findings. Recommendations should identify opportunities and roadblocks for different avenues of implementation.

Proposal Submission Requirements

Proposals must contain, at a minimum, the following:

  1. Detail on relevant projects and reports you have produced previously. Previous experience in relevant fields (farmers’ markets, local food systems, technology platforms) is a plus.
  2. Contact information for two to three references from organizations or clients you have worked with previously.
  3. Your system of client reporting and communication.
  4. An overview of how you would approach the proposed project, including timeline, process, and estimated costs.

Directions for Vendors

Proposals should be emailed in a single PDF document to [email protected] by COB Friday, May 6th.

PRODUCE PERKS MIDWEST IS DEDICATED TO DIVERSIFYING OUR CONTRACTOR BASE. WE SEEK TO WORK WITH BUSINESSES THAT SHARE OUR VALUES OF SOCIAL AND RACIAL EQUITY AND ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES TO MINORITY-OWNED, WOMEN-OWNED, VETERAN-OWNED, LGBT-OWNED, AND DISABLED-OWNED BUSINESSES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.