2014 ASHS Annual Conference

An increasing trend among farmers in northern climates is the use of unheated greenhouses, commonly referred to as hoophouses or high tunnels. These hoophouses enable farmers to extend the growing season and provide locally grown, fresh produce for 10-12 months of the year. While hoophouses are relatively low cost plastic covered structures, for a new or beginning farmer, access to capital to purchase and build these structures is a common obstacle.  On the consumer side, there is increased interest in supplying fresh, healthy, fair, and affordable produce to vulnerable youth and families.  One means of addressing this has been the increased acceptance of food assistance benefits at farmers markets throughout the country.  Up to this point programs have addressed either the farmer side or the consumer side, however, Hoophouses for Health addresses both sides of these issues.

Hoophouses for Health is a unique program that provides farmers with access to capital, at 0% interest for five years, to build hoophouses and provides ongoing technical assistance (TA) to increase production and business success.  This TA includes construction assistance, crop selection, spacing and fertility recommendations, projected target yields, and crop enterprise budgeting assistance. Simultaneously the program works with community partners to introduce vulnerable youth and their families to Michigan farmers markets by providing monetary incentives in the form of vouchers that encourage these consumers to become loyal, repeat customers.  As the vouchers are redeemed by participating farmers, an amount equal to the vouchers is deducted from the amount borrowed by farmers. 

At the close of 2013, there were 24 farms with 28 hoophouses funded by the program and 13 farmers markets from across the state of Michigan participating in the program. The program has partnered with local Head Start agencies and community organizations to facilitate distributing vouchers to families. Evaluations of the program have concluded that at least 2,740 individuals representing 752 families were served during the 2013 market season (Lelle, 2014).