Nutrition Incentives

Nutrition Incentives
Growing better access to better food.

We build and support nutrition incentives that expand healthy food choices and spark economic opportunity across the country. Our Double Up Food Bucks program is a national model for nutrition incentives active in 28 states and growing.

Good for our community

Double Up Food Bucks helps those in need get access to good, nutritious food.

Good for our farmers

Double Up Food Bucks helps local farmers pursue their purpose as well as their profitability.

Opportunity

Double Up matches SNAP, or food stamps, spent on fruits and vegetables.

SNAP represents the largest federal investment in our food and farm system—at more than $70 billion dollars a year. In communities that are low-wealth this is a major portion of the local food economy. What if we could harness even a small percentage of those dollars toward fresh, healthy, locally grown food?

Model

A decade ago, Fair Food Network collaborated with five Detroit farmers markets to field test the idea of healthy food incentives through a pilot program called Double Up Food Bucks.

Double Up matches food stamp dollars spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s a win-win-win: more healthy food for families, better business for farmers, and a boost for local economies

Uniform Design, Brand
Double Up is defined by its uniform design and brand, supporting strong customer awareness and streamlined implementation.

outlets
Diverse Outlets
Double Up is proven to work in all the places people buy food in their communities from farmers markets to grocery stores.

Local Agriculture
No matter the retail setting, Double Up maintains strong local sourcing and remains a win for family farmers.

Results

Double Up is an investment in good food that gets great results.

Dig into our 2021 Impact Report to see how Double Up programs in 30 states stepped up to bring affordable fruits and vegetables within reach of every family while generating $50+ million in SNAP and Double Up dollars supporting local farmers and grocers.

In the Michigan program, local sourcing is generating big wins for Michigan farmers: In 2020, independent grocers purchased $3.64+ million in Michigan produce during the peak growing season. In 2020 that number grew to $5.96+ million.

Across The Nation

Click a state for more information

Active Double Up program

Fair Food Network supporting healthy food incentive work

Bring Double Up to your community.

Today Double Up is active in 30 states and growing. We continue to partner with communities where we can make the biggest difference, applying our years of on-the-ground experience so they can hit the ground running.

Double Up is a complete package, ready to be adopted by partners nationwide. Our program toolkit includes all resources partners need to bring Double Up in their communities–from a record keeping and evaluation frameworks to branded outreach and marketing materials. Plus, Fair Food Network is on-hand to help partners get started and succeed with individualized coaching, cross-site networking, and ongoing insights from our work in Michigan and other Double Up communities.

We are also growing a nationwide community of practice through the Nutrition Incentive Hub–sharing tools, lessons learned, and innovations to ensure Double Up remains a win for families, farmers, local markets, and grocers it serves.

To learn more about our Nutrition Incentive Hub or explore bringing Double Up to your community, email us at info@doubleupfoodbucks.org.

Download our National Impact Overview for more results.

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Michigan

Where Double Up began.

We continue to grow and innovate the Double Up model to bring healthy food to more families, through more farmers, in more locations. Our flagship Michigan program remains a statewide success story and proving ground for innovation.

Statewide Success
Over a decade ago, Fair Food Network collaborated with five Detroit, Michigan farmers markets to field test the idea of healthy food incentives in farmers markets. The program quickly grew statewide to 240+ farmers markets and grocery stores powered by federal, state, and philanthropic support.

In 2007, before Double Up began, less than $16,000 in SNAP benefits were distributed at Michigan farmers markets. In 2020, sales of SNAP and Double Up topped $28 million in farmers markets and grocery stores.

Grocery Game Changer
Fair Food Network led the expansion of incentives into grocery stores in 2013 through one of the first pilots in the nation. Double Up is a proven game changer in the grocery setting, helping stores distinguish themselves in the marketplace, attract new customers while encouraging loyalty. Local agriculture remains a key feature in the grocery setting with participating stores committing to strong local sourcing.

Proving Ground
The Michigan Double Up program remains a proving ground for innovation, pushing the field forward with a focus on grocery expansion, technology innovations, and farmer-to-grocer connections. New innovations seeded in Flint, Michigan are allowing shoppers to carry earned Double Up benefits with them across participating locations, plus shifting physical tokens to electronic and mobile processing.

Download our Michigan impact overview for more results.

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Double Up is making a difference in communities nationwide. See the big impact we’re having in one community Flint, Michigan, in the wake of the city’s water crisis.

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