Honest Weight Launches Double Up Food Bucks
SNAP Incentive program increases healthy food access for low-income families, supports local farmers
Honest Weight Food Co-op announces the launch of Double Up Food Bucks New York (Double Up), a program administered by Field & Fork Network, doubling the buying power of SNAP customers. Honest Weight Food Co-op is the first grocery store in the Capital region to offer the program which matches $1 for $1 federal SNAP dollars, up to $20 per day, to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on New York-grown produce.
“Double Up benefits our customers and farmers, while helping grow healthier communities” says Alex Mytelka, head of marketing at Honest Weight. “Food insecurity is at an all-time high. We’re in the midst of a pandemic and we still have folks in the community we call home wondering where their next meal is coming from. Plain and simple, we need to do better. We need to show up for each other.” Mytelka continued, “As a community-owned food cooperative, we’re on a mission to break down this false narrative that fresh, healthy, colorful, locally grown food is only available to those who can afford it. Double Up is now one of the strongest tools in our collective community food access toolkit.”
“We are thrilled to be able to continue to expand this program in the Capital Region at Honest Weight,” says Frances McGuire, Double Up Program Manager. “Double Up Food Bucks allows shoppers experiencing food insecurity to make their own healthy decisions when purchasing food for their families. We hope to see Double Up Food Bucks included in the 2022 New York State budget so that we can bring the program to even more locations in the area in the coming months.”
The American Heart Association, a partner of Field & Fork Network, supports Double Up Food Bucks and is advocating for funding for the program at the state and local levels. “Being able to eat well is a key factor to improving heart and brain health, and we are seeing now more than ever how critical good health is,” said Michael Poindexter, senior vice president of SEFCU, Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church and member of the Capital Region Board of Directors of the American Heart Association. “We’ve been advocating for funding for Double Up Food Bucks at the local and state level so that more people can have access to even more healthy food. We’re proud to work with Field & Fork Network as they implement programs across the state, and are glad to see that the Honest Weight Food Co-Op is now accepting Double Up Food Bucks.
Since piloting at 7 Western New York farmers markets in 2014, Double Up has expanded into over 29 counties and 180 locations across the state, serving over 32,000 SNAP households. The program operates in farmers markets, mobile markets, farm stands, corner stores, and grocery outlets.
Honest Weight Food Co-op is open to the public from 8am-9pm, seven days a week. Additional Double Up sites in the Capital Region include Capital Roots and Schenectady Green Market. For a complete list of participating Double Up sites and hours of operation, visit www.doubleupnys.com/locations.
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About Honest Weight Food Co-op
Honest Weight Food Co-op is a member-owned and -operated consumer cooperative that is committed to providing the community with affordable, high quality natural foods and products for healthy living. The Co-op, established in 1976, is open to the public. Its mission is to promote more equitable, participatory and ecologically sustainable ways of living. Learn more online at www.honestweight.coop, and on Facebook and Instagram.