County of San Luis Obispo Honored for Innovation

Author: Jeanette Trompeter
Date: 4/10/2024 10:53:10 AM

The County of San Luis Obispo was honored by the California State Association of Counties for innovative programs.

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The County of San Luis Obispo was honored at yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting for being one of the most innovative in the State when it comes to getting nutritious food to struggling families in the community.

 

Graham Knaus, a representative from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) came from Sacramento to present the 2023 CSAC Challenge Award at yesterday’s meeting to the County’s University of California Cooperative Extension. (link to presentation: https://youtu.be/wdWb_WuF1X8)

 

The annual award program honors innovative and best practices in county government and of the hundreds of applicants only 14 were selected for awards in 2023.

 

“The County submitted multiple entries of great programs from other departments as well, but the competition is high. We are honored that CSAC found one of our programs worthy of such recognition,” said Acting County Administrative Officer Rebecca Campbell.

 

The UC Cooperative extension was chosen for its collaboration with other departments like Social Services, Public Health, Child Welfare Services, and partner agencies to make fresh produce more available to those who struggle to make ends meet in our community.

 

Thanks to these efforts, ten farmers markets in our county now accept Cal Fresh and nine of them offer Market Match, meaning for every $1.00 of Cal Fresh redeemed, a person can buy $2.00 of food at the farmers markets.

 

The program has increased the visibility of farmers markets around the county and made the markets accessible to those who might otherwise not have had the opportunity to purchase such a variety of fresh produce. The results show that cross-sector partnerships can increase access to healthy food and support for local agriculture.