Sustainable Food Center’s bold new vision imagines a Texas where SFC works alongside other leaders to develop a food system that benefits small to mid-size farms while supporting our environment and low-income communities.
SFC Double Dollars is Now Double Up Food Bucks
Hilda Gutiérrez, Food Access Director
This October, we’re taking a step in that direction by changing from our homegrown brand, Double Dollars, to Double Up Food Bucks, a national SNAP incentive program created by Fair Food Network.
Just like Double Dollars, Double Up Food Bucks Austin matches up to $30 in SNAP, WIC and FMNP benefits that can be used to purchase fruits and vegetables at area farmers' markets and farm stands.
By adopting this national brand, we benefit from:
- A built-in network connecting us to other programs across the nation doing similar work
- Technical assistance from a leader in the field
- Statewide brand alignment to increase our visibility and impact at the legislature
- Expanded reach across the state which will increase our impact and support for low-income families and farmers
For years, we have dreamed of working with farmers’ markets across the state to initiate SNAP incentive efforts. By moving to Double Up Food Bucks - with financial support from a new federal grant - we have the additional tools we need to realize that dream.
Starting this fall, we will lead a statewide effort to align SNAP incentive programs under the Double Up Texas banner, with satellite sites across the state.
By adopting Double Up Food Bucks, we will be able to grow our knowledge and improve our food access programming while maintaining our current program structure. Austin-area farmers’ market and farm stand customers paying with SNAP, WIC and FMNP vouchers will continue to receive a 1-to-1 match on every dollar spent (up to $30). This means that more families across the state will be able to purchase locally grown produce.
Low-income, low-access communities suffer from disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and diet-related disease compared to better-resourced communities. In the past decade, SNAP Incentive Programs, like Double Up Food Bucks, have risen to the top as an innovative strategy for addressing food insecurity, by increasing the buying power for underserved communities and promoting healthy eating.[i]
We are so excited to launch into this new era of food access programming. With Double Up Food Bucks, we aim to expand access to healthy, affordable food for everyone in Texas.
Want to learn more about Double Up Food Bucks? Visit our Double Up Food Bucks web page or contact [email protected].
[i] Evaluation of the Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP) Final Report. Prepared by Abt Associates for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, September 2014.