Double Up Food Bucks Participation is Associated with Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Food Security Among Low-Income Adults

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the Utah Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program on fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake and food security status among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.

Methods: Data were collected in 2015, using a before-and-after study design. At the farmers' market, a convenience sample of SNAP recipients was recruited for a survey and a 4-week telephone follow-up survey. Differences between the 2 surveys in food security and F&V intake were tested using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: Follow-up surveys were completed with 138 (40%) of the 339 baseline participants. Median F&V consumption increased from 2.82 times per day to 3.29 times per day (median, interquartile range 1.48-3.99 and 3.28-5.02, respectively, P = .002). The percentage of DUFB participants who were food secure increased by 15% (P = .001).

Conclusions and implications: The present results add to the growing literature indicating farmers' market incentives are associated with increased F&V consumption and decreased food insecurity. Although more research is needed, farmers' market incentives may be an effective area of policy intervention.

Keywords: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; diet; farmers’ market incentives; food security; fruit; income; nutrition policy; poverty; vegetables.