The North Iowa and Clear Lake Farmers Markets add program benefiting low income families

By Lisa Packer, Local Food Coordinator, Healthy Harvest

The North Iowa and Clear Lake Farmers Markets have added the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program, a healthy food incentive supporting families living with food insecurity.

A program of Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, DUFB matches the value of federal nutrition benefits spent at participating farmers’ markets, helping people bring home more healthy, locally-grown fruits and vegetables.

Here’s how it works: Double Up matches the value of SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) purchases at participating sites with additional dollars to spend on fresh, locally-grown produce. For instance, a family that spends $10 in SNAP benefits at a participating farmers market receives an additional $10 in Double Up Food Bucks to purchase Iowa-grown produce.

With 50 vendors across both markets, farmers markets are a great avenue for everyone looking to buy local, including our Double Up families.

The benefits ripple through our community: low-income families eat more healthy food, local farmers gain new customers and make more money, and more food dollars stay local.

Adding DUFBs helps low-income families stretch their food dollars, and easily access fresh, local produce.

Our farmers markets are family-friendly where people connect with the farmers who grow their food, try new foods, set healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime and enjoy affordable, accessible fresh fruits and vegetables.

Double Up Food Bucks began in six Iowa farmers markets in 2016 and is now active at 13 sites including farmers markets, farm stands, and mobile markets across Iowa. In 2016, the program reached 1,000 SNAP recipients resulting in more than $25,000 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables purchased from Iowa family famers. From a 2016 program evaluation, 94 percent of SNAP shoppers reported eating more fruits and vegetables and 74 percent of farmers reported making more money because of Double Up.

The Clear Lake Farmers Market is 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Surf Ballroom parking lot through Oct. 17.

For more information about Double Up Food Bucks, visit ww.iowahealthieststate.com/double-up-food-bucks, call 515-309-3227 or email info@iowahealthieststate.com. The Healthiest State Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization driven by the goal to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.