Harvest Bucks Increasing Healthy Food Access Through Point of Purchase Incentives

Boulder County HEAL Focus Area

HEAL Action Areas 5 servings of fruits and vegetables 1 hour of physical activity 0 sugary drinks breastfeeding duration

Healthy Eating Action Area Prioritized Indicators Percentage of children meeting daily recommendation for fruit and vegetable consumption Strategies Increase access to fruits and vegetables through pricing, placement, and urban planning strategies. Encourage organizations and systems that serve children and families to promote fruit and vegetable consumption.

Building Support Through Diverse Partnerships

History of SNAP and the BCFM Accepting SNAP for 8 years WIC Program for more than 20 years Markets on Saturday and Wednesday Longmont and Boulder

Incentive Origins Western Adaptation Alliance Conference – Boulder County Public Health – Boulder County Parks and Open Space – City of Boulder Human Services Department – Boulder County Farmers’ Market – Boulder County Human Services Department

Harvest Bucks – What Are They? Spent like cash $1 denominations Match SNAP benefits up to $40 Only eligible for fruits and vegetables

Harvest Bucks – How it Works Step 1: – Find the information booth – Proceed with EBT card

Harvest Bucks – How it Works Step 2 – Withdraw SNAP Bucks from your EBT account – Use SNAP bucks for all SNAP eligible foods Fruits Vegetables Meats Cheese Eggs Bread

Harvest Bucks – How it Works Step 3 – Receive matching Harvest Bucks – Match up to $40 per market per week – Only eligible for fruits and vegetables

Step 4 - Shop

Program Results

Increase in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption 85.7% of participants wouldn’t shop without the incentives 94.6% get at least half of their fruits and vegetables from the farmers’ market As a result of the Harvest Bucks Program – 100 % agreed or strongly agreed that it was easier to buy fruits and vegetables – 86% increased fruit and vegetables consumption – 89% increased the variety of fruits and vegetables

Ingredients for Success Administrative Support Existing SNAP Program Program Promotion – HHS (SNAP enrollment) – SNAP-Ed – YMCA – Food Banks – Cities – WIC Evaluation Fundraising

Building Sustainability Proposed 2016 Sustainability Tax Political Support – Food Systems Advisory Board – Making Local Food Work Fiscal Support – City of Boulder – Boulder County HHS Unique funding opportunities

How it Works

Questions? Rachel Arndt, AICP Built Environment and HEAL Coordinator Boulder County Public Health Ph: