The University of Nebraska Extension and the Department of Agriculture have teamed up to give families with SNAP benefits a healthier option. Through the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, they have started a program called Double Up Food Bucks, which helps people eat healthier, and stretches SNAP benefits further.
Eating healthy is expensive, and almost impossible with SNAP benefits. The Double Up Food Bucks program gives SNAP members a $1 voucher for every dollar of fresh produce they purchase. This allows shoppers to get twice as many fruits and vegetables! The vouchers can be used right away, or they can be saved for another trip. The vouchers are good for up to two years.
There are currently two local grocery stores, and four local farmer's markets, participating in the program. Participating locations include Sunday Farmers' Market at College View, Fallbrook Farmers Market, Community Crops Veggie Van, Leon's Gourmet Grocery, Open Harvest Co-op Grocer and F Street Market.
In its first year at Open Harvest Co-Op Grocery, the Double Up Food Bucks program saw tremendous growth. When the program started, $4,000 in vouchers were given out. Between 2018 and the beginning part of 2019, nearly $9,000 were handed out by Open Harvest Co-Op alone.
In total in the last year, $17,000 in vouchers have been used. In its next year, Double Up Food Bucks is looking to double the number of grocery stores that participate.
If you are interesting in learning more about The Double Up Food Bucks program, click on the link below.
https://food.unl.edu/DoubleUp
More details at: https://food.unl.edu/DoubleUp