Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Accessibility Pilot Project: Supporting Farm Vendors

To make SNAP incentive programs more accessible and equitable and to reduce the stigma of using SNAP incentives, the Washington State Departments of Health and Social and Human Services have partnered to pilot a program called Produce Rewards. This program will integrate fruit and vegetable incentives onto the SNAP EBT card, allowing SNAP users to swipe their cards to use both their SNAP benefits and fruit and vegetable incentives. A vital component of this pilot will be the successful implementation of SNAP EBT transaction processing equipment by farm vendors; this will be the first time farm vendors will be directly accepting SNAP EBT and processing transactions. Feedback from farm vendors, obtained by the Pasco farmers market manager, was used to develop vendor training to support Produce Rewards implementation. This training provided detailed instructions regarding eligibility, how to apply for the Produce Rewards program, information regarding equipment options, how to set up and use SNAP EBT equipment, and how to access support. In addition, vendors were provided with a user-friendly, step-by-step infographic with links for each step of the Produce Rewards application process and access to a website with additional information. Once farm vendors complete the application process and receive their equipment, they will receive a questionnaire asking their opinions on the current processes and resources available to inform decisions for future expansion of the Produce Rewards program.

Community Partner: Washington State Department of Health, Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program

Materials Available

• Poster

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Project Type(s): MPH Practicum

Author(s): Anastasia Powell

Program(s): Master of Public Health, RDN Training

Year: 2023

Adviser(s):

• Anne Lund