New Initiative Enhances Access to Fresh Produce for CalFresh Recipients
Santa Clara County is piloting the Healthy Food Incentive Grocery Project, known as Double Up Food Bucks California, aimed at increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables for families enrolled in the CalFresh program. This initiative addresses the critical issue of food affordability highlighted in the SPUR report, Healthy Food Within Reach.
The program allows participants to receive matching funds when they purchase California-grown fruits and vegetables. For instance, a shopper spending $10 of their CalFresh benefits on eligible produce will receive an additional $10 to spend on any fresh fruits or vegetables within participating grocery stores.
Currently, seven grocery stores in both Santa Clara County and Alameda County are engaged in the Double Up Food Bucks program. This pilot is a vital step towards a more sustainable and permanently funded healthy food incentive program integrated within the CalFresh framework, ultimately benefiting local agricultural economies while making healthy food more accessible for low-income families.
For details about participating store locations and to understand how the program operates, please visit www.DoubleUpCA.org.
The project thrives on support from several organizations, including a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefits Program, Leslie Family Foundation, Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, Stupski Foundation, Sunlight Giving, and The Health Trust.
To explore the results from the Double Up Food Bucks project, visit their website.
Staff Leads: Eli Zigas, Food and Agriculture Policy Director, elizgas@example.com and Grecia Marquez-Nieblas, Food and Agriculture Program Manager, greciamarquez@example.com.
Project Partners: