Background:
Coastal Foodshed is located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a coastal town halfway between
Cape Cod and Providence, Rhode Island. Coastal Foodshed’s mission is to make it easier for
growers to sell, and consumers to buy, healthy and affordable local foods.
New Bedford has a rich history and vibrant arts and culture scene. As the most valuable
commercial fishing port in the nation, New Bedford has attracted diverse residents who
immigrated from Portugal, Cape Verde, Scandinavia, and Central America. The influence of
these cultures can be found in local shops, restaurants, museums, and public art throughout
the city.
Anti‐Poverty Focus
Coastal Foodshed’s core work is to increase the amount of local food sold by farmers and
purchased by residents throughout the Southcoast, with a strong focus on equitable access for
marginalized community members and underserved community members who are
experiencing food insecurity.
A large part of Coastal Foodshed’s work is reaching out to residents who use SNAP benefits to
purchase a significant amount of their food each month. SNAP users can use their SNAP
benefits to purchase food from Coastal Foodshed at ALL of our points of sale. In Massachusetts,
SNAP users are also automatically eligible for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) which
provides SNAP users with an incentive to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables. For
every SNAP dollar used to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables from approved vendors
like Coastal Foodshed, SNAP users earn back a dollar (between $40‐$80 additional per month
based on household size) that can be used at any retailer that accepts SNAP benefits.
The HIP program has played an extremely important role in supporting food security for
Massachusetts’ residents ‐ while also supporting local farmers. Coastal Foodshed is the ONLY
HIP‐eligible vendor in New Bedford that is open year‐round, however, only 3% of SNAP users in
New Bedford are buying food from Coastal Foodshed, and only 2% of SNAP users in Bristol
County are using HIP! Access to sufficient healthy foods is foundational to the physical,
emotional, and economic health and wellness of families.
Local Food Access Coordinator VISTA
As the Local Food Access VISTA, you will play a critical role in educating residents about the
SNAP and HIP programs, while spreading the word about Coastal Foodshed, and where and
how SNAP users can purchase local foods to ultimately increase the number of SNAP customers
purchasing food from Coastal Foodshed and accessing additional HIP benefits.
The ideal Local Food Access VISTA will speak English and Spanish, understand the diverse
communities they are working in, and be friendly, self‐motivated, and a strong communicator.
The Local Food Access VISTA’s primary responsibilities will include:
- Developing educational materials about SNAP and HIP
- Identifying and meeting with community partners who also serve SNAP clients to
educate them about Coastal Foodshed - Gathering feedback from customers and partnering organizations to improve messaging
- and outreach
- Collecting and analyzing various data and make recommendations to staff improve
- SNAP outreach and customer interactions
Benefits
- ALL STANDARD BENEFITS; see listing for full list
- Weekly box of local food produce
- Opportunity to network with dozens of community activists and leaders
Through this VISTA position, you will have an important impact on New Bedford and its
surrounding communities, helping marginalized residents access healthy, locally grown foods
while also improving food security for many families and children living in poverty. You will also
gain knowledge about local food systems and food hub operations and how they support local
farmers and food justice!
**To apply, please visit the link here: **
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