WASHINGTON D.C. — A fresh produce program benefiting people receiving food assistance and farmers across the nation is expanding in Michigan and two other states.

 

Federal funding of $3.5 million has been secured from USDA’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant program, to grow the Double Up Food Bucks program in Michigan. Another $13.3 million was awarded by USDA in 29 other separate grants to expand the program in other states like Colorado and western New York.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, said the dollars expanding the program in her home state will be matched with $3.5 million in private funds.

She was instrumental in starting the program, now in 23 states with $100 million included in the last farm bill. “In the 2014 farm bill, I fought to include innovative opportunities like this to improve access to healthy, local food in communities and create new ways for Michigan farmers to sell their products locally,” she said.

People in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance  Program (SNAP) double their financial aid on purchasesof fresh regionally grown fruits and vegetables, allowing them to eat healthier and stretch their food budgets.

“Support for produce incentives has energized the field with direct benefits for low-income families and American farmers,” said Dr. Oran Hesterman, president and CEO of Fair Food Network.

In 2009, FFN started the program in Detroit, and now it’s a model for the effort in 23 states like Iowa, Ohio and Missouri. At the direction of USDA, the FFN is using the extra funds to expand the Double Up Food Bucks program to more farmers’ market and grocery stores throughout Michigan. In addition, Stabenow said the new funding will be used to expand technology to make purchases easier for families and farmers, and expand what’s offered at farmers’ markets and groceries yearround instead of just seasonally.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said the program in 2016 helped put fresh food on the tables of at least 44 million Americans, including 19 million children. “This builds on the successes of health-related incentives, with many of the projects being conducted at farmers’ markets. At the same time, we’re also helping to strengthen local and regional food systems,” he said.

According to Iowa State University extension, more than 70,000 people took part in the program in 2016 in that state and more than 70 percent of them are in families with children. Two-thirds of the recipients said they eater fewer higher-fat snacks from having better access to fresh produce, often unaffordable for them previously. 

 

On average, more than $100 in extra assistance per month was given to each Iowan to purchase additional produce, according to ISU extension officials.

According to the FFN, more than 1,000 farmers are currently reaping benefits from the program with more than half reporting they’re making more money, gaining new customers and selling more produce.

More than 50 grocery stores are now taking part in the program, with more expected to be added in the coming years, according to USDA.