Kansas officials report that the Double Up Food Bucks program, which helps low-income families purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, provided over $1.1 million in benefits last year, according to a news release.
Erin Bishop, program manager with K-State Research and Extension, noted that since its launch in 2020, the number of participating vendors—primarily farmers markets—and sites, including grocery stores, has doubled across the state.
The program allows families eligible for SNAP benefits to effectively double their purchasing power for fresh produce at participating farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and grocery stores. Kansas is part of the Double Up Food Bucks Heartland region, which spans the Kansas City metro area and much of central and western Missouri, where an estimated 1.1 million households qualify for SNAP.
As program manager, Bishop assists farmers market and grocery store managers in implementing the initiative. At farmers markets, customers can use their SNAP cards to receive tokens, while grocery stores offer credits for eligible items.
Funded by federal grants totaling $12.4 million in 2020 and 2021, the program has delivered over $4 million in benefits to Kansas families since its inception.
