Fair Food Network Welcomes Alex Canepa as Michigan Policy Manager 

Canepa brings experience advocating for SNAP incentive programs and farmers 

April 14, 2020 | ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Fair Food Network announced today that Alex Canepa joined as its new policy manager leading efforts to connect with partners and state policymakers in Michigan.

Canepa brings state-level agriculture and food policy experience to this work. He served as the Policy Officer for the Sustainable Food Center based in Austin, Texas. He also brings national-level policy experience through his past roles as the Research and Education Director for the Farmers Market Coalition and as a Program Specialist at U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We are excited for Alex to help us work with Fair Food Network partners and state public officials to grow the ability of Double Up Food Bucks to support Michigan families,” said Kate Krauss, Fair Food Network’s Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer.

Fair Food Network is a leader in healthy food incentives through its signature program Double Up Food Bucks, which today is in more than 250 sites across Michigan and 27 states nationwide. Double Up matches SNAP dollars spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. Its benefits are three-fold: a win for state farmers selling more produce; a win for families putting more healthy food on their tables; and a win for local businesses and economies. (SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.)

Canepa’s policy work is grounded by experience in vegetable farming and selling produce at Austin-area farmers markets. “I grew up at farmers markets and later worked at markets, where I offered Double Up at my farm stand, so I know how critical such programs are for both farmers and families.”

Canepa is based in Ann Arbor, Mich., working alongside Mark Nicholson, Policy Director at Fair Food Network. He can be reached at acanepa@fairfoodnetwork.org.