Food Access
Double Up Food Bucks is a nutrition incentive program that matches SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – formerly known as food stamps) purchases at participating farmers markets, mobile markets and retail sites. The Double Up incentive is a way to increase the access to and the affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income individuals and families. Double Up provides a $1 for $1 match on any SNAP purchase.
The Double Up Food Bucks incentive can only be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables thereby promoting healthier eating habits among the participants and redirecting federal food assistance dollars into the local food and agriculture economy. In addition to expanding the number of sites where Double Up Food Bucks is available, we have partnered with Applied Sciences Group to develop and test new technologies that deliver SNAP incentives at the point-of-sale.
Helping more New Yorkers buy fresh, healthy food from local farmers is a simple yet powerful concept. With programs such as Double Up, every dollar spent does at least double duty, providing a dollar in new sales for New York family farmers and a dollar in real nutrition assistance, improving community health, and keeping food dollars circulating in local economies. The wins are threefold:
Families Bring Home More Healthy Food
- $8.3 Million SNAP & Double Up dollars spent on fruits and vegetables
- 38,000+ New Yorkers served
Farmers Make More Money
- $800,000+ in SNAP and Double Up spent at farm direct sites
- 400+ farmers benefited
- 220+ participating farmers markets, mobile markets and farm stands
More Food Dollars Stay in the Local Economy
- $2.8 Million in SNAP & Double Up dollars spent at corner & grocery stores
- 18 brick & mortar sites
Since 2014, Double Up has flourished, growing from seven farmers markets in Western New York to more than 230 unique sites across the state. We have expanded beyond farmers markets into small retail and grocery stores, the next frontier in healthy food incentives.
The success of Double Up is grounded in partnerships – those that support implementation and those that extend its impact with targeted outreach and complementary programming. We are proud to partner with a number of organizations across the state.
