More fresh fruit and vegetables for low income Oregonians
Astoria Co+op is first grocery store
in the state to pilot Double Up Food Bucks
Shoppers using
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly known as food
stamps) will soon be able to load up on more healthy fresh fruit and
vegetables. In September, for every $5 spent on fresh produce using an Oregon
Trail Card, Astoria Co+op will give a $5 voucher to spend on more produce; up
to $10 per visit.
This is a
grant-funded pilot, made possible by Oregon Food Bank, to work through the
logistics of offering Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) more long-term at grocery
stores. DUFB is a nutrition incentive program that matches SNAP benefits to
enable shoppers to buy more fruits and vegetables.
After running
at more than 60 farmers’ markets around the state from 2015 to 2018 using
federal grant funding and other sources, DUFB will be expanded to select Oregon
grocery stores for the first time thanks to an investment from the state. In
July, the Oregon Legislature approved $1.5 million in the 2019-2021 biennium
budget to continue and expand the program.
“Double Up Food Bucks has proven to be a hit
among SNAP customers, farmers, and market managers, not just in Oregon, but
around the country. Expanding the program to retail outlets like the co-op will
further support local businesses and growers, while providing low-income
community members with year-round access to quality fruits and vegetables,”
said Kelly Fraser, Oregon Food Bank’s Statewide Network Developer.
Astoria Co+op
will be the first grocery store to pilot Double Up Food Bucks under the
program’s expansion. The co-op is a community-owned grocery store, but you
don’t need to be an owner or have a membership to shop. Any beneficiary of SNAP
via the Oregon Trail Card is eligible to take part in this program.
“I am
excited to increase access to the unique produce offering we have at the co-op.
More folks purchasing local and organic fresh fruit and veggies is a win for
the entire community,” said Matt Stanley, Astoria Co+op’s General Manager.
According to
Double Up Food Bucks Oregon, only 11% of Oregonians consume enough fruit and
vegetables for a healthy life. For the one in six Oregonians experiencing food
insecurity, eating the recommended servings of produce isn’t affordable. A diet
rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of many serious and chronic conditions
including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
