REUBEN V. ANDERSON CENTER FOR JUSTICE RELEASES IMPACT EVALUATION HIGHLIGHTING SUCCESS OF FRESH FARMERS PRODUCE BOX PROGRAM

JACKSON, Miss. — The Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice (RVA Center) has released its comprehensive FRESH Farmers Produce Box Program Impact Evaluation Report, documenting the success of a community-led initiative that provided fresh, locally grown produce to more than 1,100 SNAP households across Bolivar, Coahoma, Sunflower, and Washington counties in the Mississippi Delta.

Developed in response to SNAP benefit reductions and administrative delays, the FRESH Farmers Produce Box Program partnered with the Happy Foods Project to strengthen food access while investing directly in local Black farmers. The initiative demonstrated that community-driven food systems can address immediate food insecurity while creating opportunities for long-term economic sustainability and health equity.

"The communities we serve are our communities," said LeBroderick A. Woods, M.Ed., Executive Director of the Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice. "This report reflects what we have witnessed firsthand—that when local farmers, community organizations, and residents work together, we can build practical solutions that improve lives while advancing economic, social, and racial justice."

The evaluation analyzed 959 participant surveys, with 534 fully completed surveys included in the final analysis. Among the report's key findings:

• 83% of participants said they liked receiving pre-packed produce boxes.

• 72% believed the boxes were a good way to use SNAP/EBT benefits.

• Nearly 61% said they would purchase a $30 locally sourced produce box using EBT, with an additional 26% indicating they might.

• Participants overwhelmingly preferred receiving boxes on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, demonstrating strong demand for continued access to fresh produce.

Beyond improving food access, the initiative generated economic opportunities by purchasing produce directly from local farmers at fair wholesale prices, helping strengthen the regional agricultural economy while keeping food dollars circulating within Mississippi Delta communities.

The report also identifies opportunities for future growth, including expanding digital data collection, increasing awareness of Double Up Food Bucks, exploring home delivery and mobile market models, and securing sustainable funding to transition the program from a successful pilot into a permanent community resource.

"This evaluation demonstrates that community-led investments in local agriculture can improve healthy food access while creating sustainable pathways for regional farmers," said Sharon A. Jimerson, M.S., Lead Evaluator and Program Sustainability Specialist. "The data clearly show that families want this program to continue, and the demand exists to build a long-term model that strengthens both community health and local food economies."

The FRESH Farmers Produce Box Program was made possible through funding from the Southern Poverty Law Center and implemented in partnership with the Happy Foods Project, Dreams, Hopes, and Miracles, Inc., local volunteers, undergraduate research fellows from Tougaloo College, and numerous community partners committed to advancing food sovereignty throughout the Mississippi Delta.

The full FRESH Farmers Produce Box Program Impact Evaluation Report provides recommendations for scaling the initiative and offers evidence supporting continued investment in locally driven food access programs.