Case Studies

Access of West Michigan

Access of West Michigan (Access) is a Grand Rapids-based organization that facilitates a network of Kent County Pantry Resource Centers. These organization have a common mission to improve access to healthy food within the local ecosystem. A subset of these agencies operate Pantry Farm Markets (the “Markets”), which are successfully increasing access and consumption of fresh produce among low-income customers. 

In the U.S., the federal government provides most of the national food assistance; a relatively small amount of support comes from the nonprofit and faith sector.  Yet the mix of public and community food assistance still leaves too many people without enough.  Impact organizations seek to expand services but struggle with their own sustainability due to dependence on philanthropy. In responses, many agencies have decided to innovate, leading to a wave of new and creative models that seek growth and financial sustainability.  

Strategic Growth Group identified a breadth of promising opportunities to accelerate the growth, scale, impact, and financial sustainability of the Markets as follows: 

DIRECT FARM CONTRACTS: Develop direct relationships with farms to reduce crop oversupply and enhance inventory for food pantries.

SURPLUS FOOD MODELS: Provide access to low-cost food that would otherwise be wasted by the primary food industry, including “Ugly” produce - good quality produce that is non-standard in size or esthetically flawed such that grocers will not stock; Close to Date - fresh foods expiring within two – four weeks, and shelf-stable foods expiring within in four months; Oversupply - produce that is unwanted due to a market glut caused by a successful growing season or purchasing error; Flawed Packaging - damaged, outdated, or seasonal packaging that does not impact safety.

ADAPTIVE PRICING: Employ dynamic pricing models that allow shoppers to pay different amounts.

SEASONALITY SOLUTIONS: Support clients with solutions to mitigate the disproportionate impact of seasonality on lower-income communities with season extension solutions, including food preservation such as freezing and agricultural solutions such as greenhouses.