Double Up Food Bucks can help fill the SNAP gap

In a time when SNAP has been a daily news item, there is a program that can help SNAP users stretch their food dollars. SNAP recipients who have a balance on their electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card can double their SNAP dollars for fresh fruits and vegetables when using the program at participating grocery stores and farmers markets in Kansas and Missouri.

To use the Double Up Food Bucks program, SNAP users should find a participating grocery store or farmers market at doubleupheartland.org/locations. The program is currently operating at more than 160 grocery stores and farmers markets across Kansas and Missouri.

• At participating grocery stores: SNAP users buy fresh vegetables and fruit with their SNAP EBT card. They will earn $1 in Double Up Food Bucks for every $1 spent on fresh produce, up to $25 per day. The Double Up Food Bucks balance is tracked on a loyalty card, given as a coupon or provided as an immediate 50% discount, depending on the store. SNAP customers can ask grocery store workers how the program works at a particular store.
  NOTE: For SNAP recipients who shop at stores that provide the incentive on a loyalty card or as a coupon, any incentives that have not been redeemed from previous shopping trips can still be used.
   
• At participating farmers markets: SNAP users buy SNAP tokens with their EBT card at the market information booth. (SNAP tokens can be used to buy any SNAP-eligible item.) Shoppers will get a matching amount of Double Up Food Bucks tokens to be used for fresh vegetables and fruit only. They can then shop from vendors who accept SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks tokens.
  NOTE: SNAP recipients who have tokens left from previous shopping trips to the farmers market this year can use those tokens even if there are no SNAP funds left on their SNAP EBT card.

Individuals with $0 in SNAP funds cannot earn Double Up Food Bucks incentives.