Ann Arbor’s Fair Food Network to get $3 million

August 9, 2010

Source: Crain’s Detroit Business
Author: Sherri Welch

The Ann Arbor-based Fair Food Network has secured a $3 million challenge grant from the New York-based Open Society Institute and Soros Foundations Network to take statewide a Detroit pilot program to motivate low-income people to purchase more locally grown fresh produce.

Through the “Double Up Food Bucks” program, the network plans this Saturday to begin matching up to $20 worth of purchases made by Bridge Card patrons per visit at Detroit’s Eastern Market and four other markets in the city, said Oran Hesterman, executive director of the Fair Food Network.

The network also has secured $1 million in matching funds from funders, he said.

It plans to add farmers markets around Michigan following the Detroit launch, with matching tokens for fresh produce good through Oct. 31.

A list of participating markets is at www.doubleupfoodbucks.org.