A program that allows people who are on SNAP food assistance to get more fresh produce will continue this year at the Lane County Farmers Market.
Double Up Food Bucks the program matches up to 10 dollars that SNAP participants spend at the farmers market dollar for dollar.
Angela Norman is Director of the Lane County Farmers Market. She says the Double Up Food Bucks program brought 600 more SNAP shoppers to the market last year.
Norman: “They were so grateful this was available to them. It meant that they were able to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables that were harvested yesterday in a lot of cases. So it was a very popular program and everyone’s very glad to see it back this year.”
Norman says the when asked how the program affected their diets, most Double Up customers said the amount of fruits and vegetables they consumed increased and they ate less processed foods. The Lane County Farmers Market is now open Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Park blocks in Eugene.