Double Bucks Progress Soars

This week, National Public Radio released an article “How ‘Double Bucks’ for Food Stamps Conquered Capitol Hill”, stating that the government will be allocating $100,000,000 to matching dollar (also known as “double bucks”) programs for SNAP, or food stamp, benefits. Over the next 5 years that money will go towards “boosting SNAP dollars when they’re spent on fresh fruits and vegetables.” (SNAP is a federal aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Food and Nutrition Service Administration and provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income individuals.)

Article Summary

The author credits the idea to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as part of their 2005 campaign to “get more people to eat fresh produce.” From there, the program spread first to local farmers markets and then markets in Massachusetts and Washington D.C. With the immigrant community in mind, comprised of people whose income generally made fresh produce less affordable, as well as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) recipients and seniors, The National Watermelon Association (affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture), funded a double bucks program at the Crossroads Farmers Market. Since then, doubling SNAP benefits has spread from coast to coast on scales large and small, through organizations like Wholesome Wave and the Fair Food Network, and more grassroots-style organizing, like the SNAP 2 IT! Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in St. Louis.

The Local Double Bucks Movement

SNAP 2 IT! was a project of the St. Louis Farmers Market Assocation, spearheaded by Brian DeSmet, Market Manager at Schlafly Bottleworks, and Aaron McMullin, former researcher at the St. Louis University Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as a Team including Claire Wolff, Angela Foley, Andy Kissinger and Mark Bohnert. The campaign lasted from July 13th-August 15th. Supported by a total of 88 Funders, SNAP 2 IT! has raised $3,065 to date, surpassing its $3,000 goal.

Promotion for the 2015 market year will begin in May. The Farmers Market Association is hoping to match the amount raised with a grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. They are thrilled to partner with Wholesome Wave, which Brian DeSmet calls “a unique opportunity to establish a long-term program in St. Louis that would catch us up to speed with cities that have had these programs for 3 or 4 years.” The SNAP 2 IT! campaign has made it clear: St. Louisans understand that the good food movement is backed by a spirit of inclusion; at EarthDance, we couldn’t agree more.

ed farmstand

EarthDance & SNAP

EarthDance began accepting SNAP benefits at its Ferguson Farmers Market booth in May of this year, but has been committed to providing fresh, local produce since 2013, donating unsold produce to Operation Food Search for simple, healthy cooking classes that the organization provides for low-income class attendees. Since August of 2014, EarthDance has been donating produce to needy Ferguson families. (Help us Feed Ferguson today!)

Increasing access to fresh local produce for all exemplifies one very important, comprehensive facet of growing food, farmers and community. This opportunity is, as EarthDance Director of Programs Rachel Levi stated, “close to the hearts of all staff members.” Matching SNAP recipients’ dollars spent at the market means increased revenue for farmers and more market-goers; an expanded market spreads awareness of food issues, as well as the idea that food is a commonality through which all people can connect.

“It’s so simple, but it has such profound effects both for SNAP recipients and for local farmers,” says Mike Appell, a vegetable farmer who sells his produce at a market in Tulsa, Okla.

We think so too!

 

You can find a list of the farmers markets in St. Louis that accept SNAP dollars here:

Cherokee St. International Farmers Market, International Institute of St. Louis Global Farms, North City Farmers’ Market, Schlafly Farmers Market, Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, and Webster Groves Farmers Market