Understanding Impacts of SNAP Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program at Farmers’ Markets: Findings from a 13 State RCT

Allison Karpyn, Julia Pon, Sara B. Grajeda, Rui Wang, Kathryn E. Merritt, Tara Tracy, Henry May, Ginnie Sawyer-Morris, McKenna M. Halverson and Alan Hunt
Additional contact information
Allison Karpyn: Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
Julia Pon: Target, Mountain View, CA 94040, USA
Sara B. Grajeda: Podium, Orem, UT 84097, USA
Rui Wang: Mathematica, Washington, DC 20002, USA
Kathryn E. Merritt: Robert Half, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
Tara Tracy: Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
Henry May: Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
Ginnie Sawyer-Morris: Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
McKenna M. Halverson: Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
Alan Hunt: Musconetcong Watershed Association, Asbury, NJ 08802, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-10

Abstract: Disparities in healthy food access and consumption are a major public health concern. This study reports the findings from a two-year randomized control trial conducted at 77 farmers’ markets (FMs) in 13 states and the District of Columbia that sought to understand the impact of fruit and vegetable (FV) incentive vouchers, randomly issued at varied incentive levels to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, for use at FMs. Measures included FV and overall household food purchasing; FV consumption; food insecurity; health status; market expenditure; and demographics. A repeated-measures mixed-effects analysis and the Complier Average Causal Effect (CACE) were used to examine outcomes. Despite 82% reporting food insecurity in the prior year, the findings showed that financial incentives at FMs had statistically significant, positive effects on FV consumption; market expenditures increased with added incentives. SNAP recipients receiving an incentive of USD 0.40 for every USD 1.00 in SNAP spent an average of USD 19.03 per transaction, while those receiving USD 2 for every USD 1 (2:1) spent an average of USD 36.28 per transaction. The data showed that the incentive program at the highest level (2:1) maximally increased SNAP FM expenditure and FV consumption, increasing the latter by 0.31 daily cups among those who used their incentive (CACE model).

Keywords: farmers’ markets; fruits and vegetables; incentive programs; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); low-income; food security (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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