FAMILIES “SNAP” UP LOCAL FARMS’ FRESH FOOD ACROSS THE NORTHEAST | NESAWG

More grocery and corner stores across the Northeast will be increasing their purchases of fresh produce from regional farmers as part of their participation in Double Up Food Bucks, a healthy food incentive program of the Fair Food Network, active in grocery stores and farmers markets in nearly 25 states nationwide. Double Up matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participant purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables. The wins are three-fold: low-income families bring home more healthy food, area farmers make more money, and more food dollars stay in the local economy.

Now in its third season in New Hampshire, Double Up has expanded to more independently-owned rural retail locations with thousands of New Hampshire residents benefiting from the program. In 2018, Double Up also launched in urban grocery stores in Boston and New Jersey. Such efforts integrate support from three federal Farm Bill Programs: the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (formerly FINI), SNAP, and SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed).

“We are thrilled to bring [the Double Up Food Bucks] program to some of our New Hampshire stores. Food insecurity is a real challenge in New Hampshire, and being able to offer locally grown, healthy fruits and vegetables to low-income families is a big win.It’s good for our customers, our local farmers, and local businesses.”—Mike Violette, President and CEO of Associated Grocers of New England. Thank you to the Fair Food Network for contributing this story.

East NY Farms! (ENYF!) has operated a farmers market in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn for 20 years. Their market was started by local community gardeners looking to provide healthy food for their neighbors. It has grown to include three upstate farmers and 36 local gardeners, in addition to hot food vendors and local artisans. The gardeners of East New York were the first urban growers in the state to be certified to accept USDA Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. These checks comprise over 50% of market income and make the market viable for upstate farmers that must travel long distances to come to this neighborhood. The market serves a low-income community and the FMNP helps ENYF! to form connections with local WIC and Senior centers. They offer healthy cooking demonstrations at the centers and build connections that bring new customers to the market. Thank you for East NY Farms! For contributing this story.

Read more in How State and Federal Programs Support Farmers, Fishermen, Food Entrepreneurs and Consumers in the Northeast.