Double Up Food Bucks, a food incentive program that helps low-income families eat healthier while supporting local farmers, is available now at farmers markets across Kansas.
Farmers markets in Wichita, Salina, Junction City, Manhattan, Topeka and Kansas City are accepting the benefits.
Through the program, families that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps) can receive up to $25 in tokens per day for each dollar spent with their EBT card on SNAP-eligible items at the market.
They can then use those Double Up Food Buck tokens to buy additional fresh fruits and vegetables on top of their initial purchases.
Food security and lack of nutrition are two sides of the same coin.
In Kansas, 1 in 8 people struggle with hunger, according to Feeding America; and in cases where food is available, it’s not always the most nutritious, but this is a program that helps get more nutritious food to those who often can’t afford it.
Sunflower Health Plan is sponsoring the Double Up Food Bucks program at farmers markets throughout the State of Kansas, making nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables more accessible to families in need.