Needs Assessment for Mobile Farmers Markets to help expand reach

  • Date: June 2022 - September 2022
  • Location: CCE Nassau County
  • Intern: Kayla Hsu (Kayla's blog)
  • Faculty sponsor: Dr. Thomas Hirschl, Dept. of Global Development
  • Campus-based mentor/supervisor: Dr. Mark Bridgen, SIPS
  • Field mentors/supervisors:  Nicole Borukhov and Bill Walsh
  • Stipend: $5,000
Agricultural fields at sunset

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County serves a diverse economic and racial population within the county. We are looking for an intern to assist with our Mobile Farmers Markets to help identify community needs via a needs assessment. The needs assessment primary goal would be to seek additional locations needing to be served.

Our Mobile Markets are designed to serve underserved community who receive SNAP, Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons and other government incentive programs. Our Needs assessment would not only be limited to location needs but to identify cultural diverse offerings of food to be grown and sold.

This needs assessment will help us reach out goal of increasing food access, nutrition education and improving the redemption of government assisted programs.

    Roles and responsibilities 

    The goal of this project is to conduct a comprehensive county-wide needs assessment. Needs assessment will include goals of expanding the reach of the markets and meeting the cultural diverse needs of the residents of Nassau County.

    Based on the results of the needs assessment develop plans to of ways to reach new areas of the community and coordinate with local agencies to secure access. Work with our farmer to improve planting plans for cultural diverse needs.

    The intern will have the opportunity to attend the mobile markets and interact with the residents to continue outreach and gather information.

    Qualifications and previous coursework

    This opportunity is available to non-graduating students in Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

    • Interest in Mobile Farmers Market.
    • Experience and interest in expanding community involvement.
    • Outreach experience.
    • Data Collection.

    Learning outcomes 

    • Learn how to conduct a comprehensive county-wide needs assessment.
    • Learn and develop strategies to reach of the markets and meeting the cultural diverse needs of the residents of Nassau County.
    • Learn about potential avenues to to reach new areas of the community and coordinate with local agencies to secure access.
    • Gain planning skills and learn more about farming, specific crops and some cultural diverse needs
    • Learn about mobile farmers markets (pros and cons) and how to better interact with the residents to continue outreach and gather information.