Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Alabamians are disproportionately impacted by food/nutrition insecurity and poverty when compared to the US. Statewide assets provide encouragement, including 450 independent grocers and a large number of direct-to-consumer food outlets. Alabama leaders are developing innovative solutions to capitalize on assets while addressing needs. One such solution is Double Up Food Bucks Alabama (DUFB AL), which seeks to expand its state-coordinated point of purchase nutrition incentive program to increase fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) purchases by SNAP participants. In partnership with 9 farmers markets, 2 producer-owned farm stands, 2 community supported agriculture farm box programs, 17 independent grocery stores, and multiple state agencies/organizations, Auburn University will continue to build on a successful state-coordinated point of purchase nutrition incentive program by accomplishing three goals:expand reach, uptake, and impact of DUFB AL;improve food/nutrition security among SNAP participants who participate in DUFB AL;bring together parts of the local food system to foster understanding, build capacity, expand, and sustain DUFB AL.For every dollar of SNAP benefits a participant utilizes to purchase FFV, they will earn a dollar match in tokens or vouchers to redeem for additional FFV. DUFB AL will independently evaluate progress toward goals using participant and firm-level metrics and actively collaborate with NTAE evaluation.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
In partnership with 9 farmers markets, 2 producer-owned farm stands, 2 community supported agriculture farm box programs, 17 independent grocery stores, and multiple state agencies/organizations, Auburn University will continue to build on a successful state-coordinated point of purchase nutrition incentive program by accomplishing three goals:expand reach, uptake, and impact of DUFB AL;improve food/nutrition security among SNAP participants who participate in DUFB AL;bring together parts of the local food system to foster understanding, build capacity, expand, and sustain DUFB AL.Goal 1: By October 2028, DUFB AL will expand reach, uptake, and impact of its state-coordinated point of purchase incentive program.Short-term OutcomeLaunch DUFB AL in at least one retailer in 20 different geographic locationsIntermediate OutcomeIncrease DUFB AL redemption rate to 40% in grocery stores and 80% in farmers markets and producer-owned farm standsLong-term OutcomeIncrease economic impact of DUFB ALGoal 2: By October 2028, DUFB AL will improve food and nutrition security among participants in its state-coordinated point of purchase incentive program.Short-term OutcomeIncrease purchase of FFV by DUFB AL participants at DUFB AL retailers by 25%Intermediate OutcomeSupport a shift from predominantly very low and low food security to predominantly moderate food security for DUFB AL participantsLong-term OutcomeImprove health indicators and decrease chronic disease prevalence and incidence of DUFB AL participantsGoal 3: By October 2028, DUFB AL will bring together parts of the local food system, independent grocers, farmers markets, and small to mid-size FFV producers, to foster understanding, build capacity, expand, and sustain its state-coordinated point of purchase incentive program.Short-term OutcomeIncrease sales of Alabama grown FFV at farmers markets, producer-owned farm stands, and CSAs from DUFB AL participants by 25%Intermediate OutcomeExpand participation of small to mid-size Alabama FFV producers as vendors or suppliers in DUFB AL retailers by 10%Long-term OutcomeIncrease production of small to mid-size Alabama FFV producers
Project Methods
EffortsEfforts are described below in the workplan for DUFB AL.Goal 1: By October 2028, DUFB AL will expand reach, uptake, and impact of its state-coordinated point of purchase incentive program.Strategy 1.1Strategically lead DUFB ALActions Tasks for Steategy 1.1Maintain advisory board; convene bi-annual meetingsDevelop and disseminate annual reportStrategy 1.2Coordinate promotion and advertisingDisseminate promotional materialsDevise and implement social media campaignMaintain websiteStrategy 1.3 Coordinate training and technical assistanceOnboard DUFB AL retailersDistribute FAQs, data templates, invoice templates and other technical assistance as neededStrategy 1.4 Coordinate evaluationImplement, analyze, and report process evaluation, participant surveys, and aggregate sales/incentives data as part of self-evaluation and core metric participationStrategy 1.5 Coordinate day to day operationsSupport logistics, admin, promotion, and evaluationConduct calls and site visits with DUFB AL retailersGoal 2: By October 2028, DUFB AL will improve food and nutrition security among participants in its state-coordinated point of purchase incentive program.Strategy 2.1Promote DUFB AL to SNAP participantsDistribute direct mailersUtilize printed materials to promote DUFB AL throughout the community and at DUFB AL retailersImplement social media campaignMaintain website with searchable DUFB AL locationsStrategy 2.2 Support purchase of FFVProvide dollar for dollar incentive for those who purchase FFV at DUFB AL retailers using their SNAP benefitsGoal 3: By October 2028, DUFB AL will bring together parts of the local food system, independent grocers, farmers markets, and small to mid-size FFV producers, to foster understanding, build capacity, expand, and sustain its state-coordinated point of purchase incentive program.Strategy 3.1Build capacity of retailers to successfully implement DUFB ALImplement training sessions for managers and cashiers of DUFB AL retailersDistribute FAQs and other technical assistanceProvide one-on-one technical assistanceSupport farmers markets, producer-owned farm stands, and CSAs in implementing innovative services to SNAP participantsStrategy 3.2 Foster understanding of DUFB AL among FFV producers in AlabamaProvide orientation to small and mid-size Alabama FFV producersPromote DUFB AL to small and mid-size Alabama FFV producersEvaluationDUFB AL will independently evaluate progress toward stated goals and actively collaborate with NTAE in its evaluation of GusNIP implementation and impacts. For process evaluation, DUFB AL will track and provide routine feedback on program implementation (Goals 1 and 3) using three parts: 1) After six months of DUFB AL operations, each retailer will report expenses incurred to implement and maintain DUFB AL; 2) Every month, each retailer will report date and amount issued as well as date and amount redeemed for all DUFB AL incentives; 3) Each year, the Project Coordinator will conduct interviews with partners and retailers to obtain program feedback.DUFB AL outcome evaluation will provide NTAE with necessary metrics and allow for an independent self-evaluation. All evaluation activities will proceed only with the appropriate Institutional Review Board approval. The rigorous outcome evaluation will consist of two components described below.Participant-level metrics will be obtained using direct mailers. Direct mailers containing information about DUFB AL, retailer locations and information, and a QR code/link for survey participation will be sent to a percent of SNAP households in counties with DUFB AL retailers. HSI will facilitate survey development in collaboration with NTAE, IRB approval at AU, and direct mailer design and printing. Alabama Department of Human Resources will send direct mailers to appropriate SNAP households. Survey data will 1) describe DUFB AL participant characteristics and food/nutrition habits and 2) compare DUFB AL participants to other customers. Results will measure progress toward Goals 1 and 2.Firm-level metrics will be obtained each month. DUFB AL retailers will report summary data regarding each day of operation in the previous month. Daily metrics will be aggregated to the month level for reporting to NTAE. Daily metrics also will inform rigorous self-evaluation, which will include 1) reporting trends, 2) measuring the extent to which incentives increase spending on eligible products, 3) characterizing intra-monthly use of incentives, and 4) measuring the impact of DUFB AL using differences-in-differences estimation. Results will measure progress toward Goals 1, 2, and 3.