THE NEXT GENERATION OF DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS IN MICHIGAN: GROWING TO REACH FAMILIES IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1020856
• Grant No.: 2019-70030-30400
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $12,500,000.00
• Proposal No.: 2019-04674
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2019
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2024
• Grant Year: 2019
• Program Code: [FLSP]- FINI Large Scale Project

Recipient Organization
FAIR FOOD NETWORK
350 ROCK CREEK DR
ANN ARBOR,MI 48104

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
Michiganders, especially those in low-income communities, are burdened by poor nutrition and associated diet-related diseases. Over 1,360,000 residents in Michigan struggle with accessing enough food, and a quarter of those are children (Feeding America, 2017). Similarly, local farmers are struggling; farm income, farmland acres, and numbers of new/beginning farmers have decreased. Double Up Food Bucks makes healthy food accessible and opportunity possible for all - especially in our most underserved communities. Double Up Food Bucks incentivizes the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables by providing a dollar for dollar match towards produce purchases up to twenty dollars a day.Started a decade ago at five Detroit farmers markets, Double Up has grown to nearly 250 farmers markets and grocery stores in 64 counties across the state. The program has been a quantifiable success for Michigan: In 2007, before Double Up began, less than $16,000 in SNAP benefits were distributed at Michigan farmers markets. In 2018, combined sales of SNAP and Double Up topped $6.8 million in farmers markets and grocery stores. We are currently reaching an estimated 13% of the approximately 640,000 SNAP households in Michigan and supporting 600+ farmers. Since 2009, Double Up has become a national model in over 800 sites across two dozen states, resulting in more than 14.5 million pounds of healthy food on the tables of Americans nationwide.While this program momentum reflects great success, there is still tremendous unmet need for Double Up. In Michigan's most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, 40% of respondents reported eating fruit less than once per day and 25% reported consuming vegetables less than once per day (MDHHS, 2015). Food security and access to fruits and vegetables were identified as health needs in counties with a concentration of families using SNAP in the most recent Community Health Needs Assessments conducted by local hospitals as required by the Affordable Care Act. Hunger, food insecurity, nutrition-related disease, and especially access to fruits and vegetables continue to be significant problems for Michigan families.With our program momentum and proven track record, FFN is now poised to bring Double Up to every corner of Michigan. With this support, our project will more than double participation in the Double Up program from 13% to 30% of SNAP households by 2023 and expand Double Up to every county in the State.Currently an estimated 13% of SNAP recipients are engaged in Double Up, and in 19 Michigan counties there is not a single program site. This proposed project will allow FFN to broaden and deepen Double Up across Michigan - reaching families in every corner of the State. The ultimate goals are to (1) bring Double Up to every county in the State, (2) more than double the percentage of SNAP households participating in Double Up, (3) increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables, and (4) significantly increase the proportion of the project budget dedicated to incentives to 75%.The preliminary evaluation presented at the 2019 FINI Project Directors Meeting reported no correlation between incentive use and fruit & vegetable consumption. Our Double Up evaluations in Michigan over the past three years by Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition have provided indications of significant increases in fruit and vegetable consumption by those SNAP participants who have used the Double Up program for more than 12 months compared to a shorter duration (both in farmers markets and grocery stores). Given the discrepancy between our preliminary results in Michigan and those from the USDA/WESTAT evaluation AND the importance of understanding the effect of incentives on fruit and vegetable purchases and consumption, we will engage our external evaluator to conduct a more rigorous evaluation of consumption patterns associated with purchases of fruits and vegetables using SNAP and Double Up.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
704	6230	1010	100%

Knowledge Area
704 - Nutrition and Hunger in the Population;

Subject Of Investigation
6230 - Marketing systems and sectors thereof;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;

Keywords

ebt

pos

access

farmers markets

grocery

incentive

model

produce

replicate

scale

technology

Goals / Objectives
Double Up Food Bucks is an established and trusted program that is bringing solid results to families and farmers; and there are still many families we are not reaching and much demand that is unmet. Currently an estimated 13% of SNAP recipients are engaged in Double Up, and in 19 Michigan counties there is not a single program site. This proposed project will allow FFN to broaden and deepen Double Up across Michigan - reaching families in every corner of the State. The ultimate goals are to (1) bring Double Up to every county in the State of Michigan, (2) more than double the percentage of SNAP households participating in Double Up (to 30%), (3) increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables, and (4) significantly increase the proportion of the project budget dedicated to incentives to 75%.

Project Methods
We are proud to have built a program with statewide recognition and momentum that remains faithful to the intent of the GusNIP program. And we will continue to experiment with new and better ways to meet the program's priorities.FFN has consistently pushed the technology envelope. Working with a technology development firm in Flint, MI we have developed a system that is helping sites move from low-tech token and voucher systems to our Double Up Food Bucks interoperable loyalty card. This loyalty card is the first of its kind - allowing users to earn and spend their Double Up incentives across participating sites. We are also piloting a grocery solution that integrates directly into the POS system are now coordinating with grocery stores to expand this technology. We will continue to work with this technology vendor to program a new function into the loyalty card platform for fresh experimentation at a subset of farmers or direct markets. This new approach will enable Double Up earning and spending on fresh produce at these markets, thus taking the farmers market incentive model beyond the traditional "earn on SNAP eligible, spend on fruits and vegetables". We are also negotiating with another large technology firm about piloting an integration with grocery point-of-sale systems, and have begun discussions with two consultants on their model for grocery point-of-sale upgrades to streamline incentive distribution across many different types of systems. We have a ready system and supportive partners in place to help us continue to experiment with more effective and efficient benefit redemption technology.We will also pilot transportation initiatives in up to six locations to experiment with partnerships that will help bring participants to sites offering Double Up. We will ensure that our transportation efforts learn from different types of approaches in diverse geographies, ensuring at least one urban and one rural experience. Finally, as we learn from our experiments in supporting incentive earning on fresh produce in farmers markets and coordinating transportation in underserved areas, we will capture and share our experiences and recommendations with GusNIP practitioners nationwide.EvalutationRobust evaluation is a core pillar of our program. To ensure programming remains responsive to SNAP recipient needs and in alignment with USDA goals for GusNIP, Fair Food Network will 1) conduct both internal evaluation (process and outcomes assessments) and external evaluation (assessing key parameters related primarily to fruit and vegetable purchase and consumption). These results will inform future program design and alignment with USDA preferences, and help inform the entire field of incentive practice by reporting results through the NTAE Centers.The preliminary evaluation presented at the 2019 FINI Project Directors Meeting reported no correlation between incentive use and fruit & vegetable consumption. Our Double Up evaluations in Michigan over the past three years by Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition have provided indications of significant increases in fruit and vegetable consumption by those SNAP participants who have used the Double Up program for more than 12 months compared to a shorter duration (both in farmers markets and grocery stores). Given the discrepancy between our preliminary results in Michigan and those from the USDA/WESTAT evaluation AND the importance of understanding the effect of incentives on fruit and vegetable purchases and consumption, we will engage our external evaluator to conduct a more rigorous evaluation of consumption patterns associated with purchases of fruits and vegetables using SNAP and Double Up. Details of the internal and external evaluation plans are below.Table 4 Evaluation PlanINTERNAL EVALUATION FFN will perform an assessment that evaluates process, challenges, and successes of implementation as well assessments that document effectiveness in increasing fruit and vegetable purchases among SNAP shoppers through the collection and analysis of the following qualitative and quantitative data.DATA COLLECTIONEVALUATION RESULTSNumber of customers, number of transactions, amount incentive distributed and redeemed, amount SNAP spent and (for stores) overall produce sales and local produce documentation (Monthly)Estimate the number of SNAP households being served and track the percentage of SNAP households reached by the Double Up program annuallyInform future program design in alignment with USDA preferencesIdentify changes in fruit and vegetable purchases via SNAP and Double Up over time at both a sample of direct market and retail grocery settingsDetermine use of technology and differences in participation by site typeIdentify impact of marketing and communication activities on program participationAmount of Michigan produce sourcedDocumentation of program implementation successes and challenges, including recommendations for improvementNumber of sites that have applied to participate; number of site visits conducted and results of the visits; and experience of on-boarding new sites, including at least one additional major chain grocerDocumentation of program material dissemination: data include # communications delivered and short survey of partners at close of season to estimate total number of potential participants reachedHotline info including # calls, reasons for calls, and feedback. Partner trainings will be documented; how many participants and where they are located (logged real time, analyzed quarterly)Enhanced POS transaction technology, farmers market/farm stand sites that are experimenting with a produce-only earning/spending incentive approach, and sites within transportation partnership initiativeEXTERNAL EVALUATION A mixed methods approach will be used for all external evaluation inquiries, including surveys, interviews, and analyses of sales/transaction data. Customers from a statistically significant sample of (market and store) sites will be queried to create statistically valid results. External evaluation team will collect surveys and focus group data at least once per program season, using in-person and paper self-administered intercept surveys in addition to what is available at sites using electronic POSIn-person intercept surveys once per year over a 2-week period, collected by trained staff or volunteers. Goal of 10 surveys at a minimum of 60 sites each year for a total of 600 surveys. Data includes:· Frequency of participation· Intention to continue· Items purchased· Changes in purchasing patterns· Barriers to participationConfirm fruit and vegetable purchasing trends and changes over larger geographical areas and number of sitesDescribe the demographics of program participants and determine the extent to which the population of participants in the Double Up program is representative of SNAP recipients in the communityAssess the changes in fruit and vegetable consumption of SNAP participants associated with the use of Double UpSurveys of program operators (vendors, market managers, cashiers, store owners)Understand perceptions, satisfaction, and challenges with the programWe will include both process assessment and program outcomes in annual reports to NIFA and to the NTAE Centers. We agree to follow guidelines for outcome self-assessment developed by the NTAE Centers and cooperate fully with the Centers in overall program evaluation. We will direct the resources necessary to conduct surveys at program sites and data collection to provide necessary information for the NTAE evaluation.

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Double Up Food Bucks helps to increase food and nutrition security by providing access to affordable healthy food for individuals and families who receive SNAP food assistance benefits. We obtain characteristics of the program's target audience by surveying individuals participating in Double Up Food Bucks at markets and grocery stores. Our most recent evaluation (2023 program year) found that Double Up Food Bucks participants were primarily Black (63 percent) and non-Hispanic White (31 percent), while the percentage of Latinx participants (12 percent) nearly doubled in 2023. Participants are also predominantly female (74 percent), with distribution across age groups. In our 2023 sample, Double Up participants reported experiencing food insecurity at more than four times the rate of the general US population, indicating that the program is successfully serving high-needs households with low food security. Sixty-three percent (63%) of respondents indicated they were food insecure -- an 8% increase over the previous year -- and more than one-third of respondents classified their health status as "fair or poor," more than twice the percentage of Michigan adults from the general population selecting "fair or poor" as their health status. Interviews conducted as part of Double Up's statewide evaluation show progress is being made toward the long-term health and wealth of Double Up's target population, particularly related to changes in purchasing and consumption of healthy food. The majority ofsurvey respondents (68%) reported a high level of engagement with Double Up, including earning and spending Double Up across multiple sites and incentive types.More than half (55%) of current participants reported using Double Up almost every time they shop. Shoppers reported corresponding benefits of regular program usage, including weight loss, improved management of chronic disease, and overall improved health. Shoppers also reported that using the program decreased financial stress, increased enthusiasm for cooking, and helped encourage their children to choose and eat healthier foods. Changes/Problems:Ramped up outreach efforts. The temporary pause on earning in grocery stores starting in August 2022 was successful in its aim to modulate expenses, and in January 2023, we were able to transition back into more conventional program earning and spending. To modulate spending as needed while identifying additional funding, we introduced levers in program implementation, including a cap on individual earning (decreased from $20/day to $10/day), a cap on individual spending ($10/day), and a defined window (90 days) in which users can spend their earnings. These mechanisms helped ensure continuity across our Double Up program sites and the communities we serve. On October 1, 2023, Double Up increased the benefit earning limit to its pre-pandemic level of $20/day and eliminated the cap on previously earned benefits that can be spent in a single day. Contrary to expectations, we observed only a modest increase in program spending with the cessation of the spending limit and increase in the earning cap. To promote the return of Double Up to more conventional program spending, our program and communications teams made a concerted effort to re-engage those whose participation may have lagged due to the temporary pause on grocery store earning and the above-mentioned program modulations. To this end, we held a webinar in October 2023 to communicate program changes and answer questions from Double Up site managers. At this webinar, we shared talking points for cashiers and site staff to use as they communicated the change to shoppers at their site. We also ramped up communications via direct mail, advertisements targeting key demographics, and notifications on the Double Up app, and provided updated materials toolkits for sites to supply at their locations, notifying shoppers of the change. These toolkits included various types of signage, printouts of talking points for staff, and additional pre-existing materials, as requested. Good Food Retailer Rubric. In this quarter, we continued our survey of grocers and farm direct sites in the Double Up network for compliance with program protocols and reporting requirements. This process is guiding contracting and recruitment of Double Up sites by evaluating such characteristics as reporting reliability, sourcing practices, customer satisfaction, Double Up support, community placement, and other qualities named by participants and partners. From this effort, we aim to develop and implement a "good food retailer" rubric for site recruitment going forward. This process is also helping us to evaluate and implement our local sourcing strategy and identify underperforming sites to which we can tailor our engagement approach to improve performance in 2025. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The following is a list of in-person training and professional development events the Double Up team has attended in this reporting period: 09/12/23 Storytime at Peaches n Greens (hosted by Great Start Wayne Co.+ PnG) 09/14/23 UofM Dearborn Student Resource Fair 09/22/23 Michigan Brain Injury Conference (DUFB table) 09/30/23 Men's Health Fair (Detroit Ford Field) 10/05/23 PACE & Peaches n Greens (table with their mobile market) 10/06/23 Sign-Up Event at Royal Fresh (Flint) 10/07/23 Brightmoor FAM Harvestfest 10/14/23 Project Healthy Community - Fall Family Fun Day (Detroit NW Activities Center) 12/06/23 PACE & Peaches n Greens Outreach 12/07/23 Technical Assistance at Linwood Fresh 12/08/23 Technical Assistance at E&L Supermercado 02/23/24 Community Partner, Community Health Fair at Center Line Prep 03/14/24 Community Partner, Great Start Literacy Fest 03/26/24 Community Partner, Clement Gardens 03/30/24 DUFB Site, Flint Farmers Market - Soups & Stories 04/13/24 Community Partner, Keep Growing Detroit 04/20/24 Community Partner, Congress of Communities Spring Resource Fair 04/26/24 Community Partner, ACCESS Family Resource Hub 05/01/24 DUFB Site, Detroit People's Food Coop Opening Day 05/04/24 DUFB Site, Ypsilanti Farmers Market Opening Day 06/01/24 DUFB Site, Pittsfield Farmers Market Opening Day 06/14/24 DUFB Site, Fulton Street Farmers Market 06/15/24 DUFB Site, Eastern Market 06/15/24 DUFB Site, Flint Farmers Market 06/22/24 Community Partner, Mott Flint Fest 06/24/24 Rural Grocer Convening, Montgomery, AL 07/12/24 Community Partner, Deaborn Summer Market (with Eastern Market) 08/02/24 Community Partner, Sloan's Museum of Discovery 08/10/24 Community Partner, Hurley Food FARMacy 08/14/24 DUFB Site, Be My Neighbor Day at Eastern Market 08/31/24 Community Partner, LIVE Wellness Event How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fair Food Network is always seeking opportunities to share our experiences, to exchange information with national practitioners, and to disseminate lessons learned. We share our annual report on the Fair Food Network website, in addition to sharing it directly with established partners. The report illustrates the impact Double Up programs are having on community health, wealth, and resilience nationwide, and includes detailed program statistics for 2023, as well as spotlights on specific geographies, reports on program and policy developments, and plans for the future. Key media coverage that highlighted Double Up Food Bucks over the last year included the following: July 26, 2024, State of Michigan, MDARD Hosts Roundtable to Develop New Farm to Family Program Under Governor Whitmer July 16, 2024, Mix 95.7 West Michigan, How Michiganders Can Get the Most Bang For their EBT/SNAP Buck June 20, 2024, Detroit Free Press (reach 5.02 million), Where to find food pantries, free lunches while school is out in metro Detroit June 20, 2024, Bridge Detroit (reach 105K), JB's Bites: Free produce June 14, 2024, WXMI FOX17 (reach 12.56K), Eating healthy made easy: The Double Up Food Bucks program could help your family get fresh food June 14, 2024, WKAR Public Media (29.61K), Double Up Food Bucks Program celebrates access to healthy food in Michigan since 2009 June 14, 2024, MLive (reach 8.28 million), Michigan nonprofit helping families afford fresh fruits and veggies June 13, 2024, WKTV Journal (reach 3.99K), Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Farmers Market runs Friday, June 14 through Oct. 11; Meet new Manager Yeli Romero June 12, 2024, WEYI/Mid-Michigan Now (reach 58.47K), Double Up Food Bucks Program doubles fresh produce for Michigan families June 12, 2024, Up North Live ABC (reach 399.82K), Grocery stores and farmer's markets partake in Double Up Food Bucks program June 11, 2024, WNEM CBS (reach 10.45K), Michiganders and farmers benefiting from SNAP programs June 11, 2024, WILX10 (reach 572.24K), Michiganders and farmers benefiting from SNAP programs June 10, 2024, The Detroit News (reach 3.26 million), Krauss: Boost support for Double Up Food Bucks program June 10, 2024, ABC 12 News (reach 15.83K), Fair Food Network has their first ever Double Up Food Bucks awareness week June 10, 2024, WWJ (reach 170.4 K, estimated 21 airings on June 10) and across 51 stations throughout Michigan that are part of the Michigan News Network Examples: 94.9 WSJM (reach 25.2K), Double Up Food Bucks program aims to get more healthy foods into low-income homes 103.7 COSY-FM, Double Up Food Bucks program aims to get more healthy foods into low-income homes June 7, 2024, The Flint Courier News, Improving access to healthy, affordable food in Michigan: Fair Food Network celebrates 15 Years of Its Double Up Food Bucks Program June 6, 2024, Outlier Media, Where to find fresh produce at Detroit framers markets this summer June 5, 2024, The Oakland Press, Farmers markets are cropping up in Oakland County June 4, 2024, Now Kalamazoo,Kalamazoo Farmers Market Weekday Mini Markets June 3, 2024, Upper Michigan,Bang for your buck: learn the basics of smart shopping at a Senior Support Series event this Wednesday May 31, 2024, Detroit Free Press,50 farmers markets highlight local shopping across southeast Michigan May 29, 2024, White Lake Beacon,Montague Farmers Market offers Double Up Food Bucks program May 20, 2024, WoodTV.com,Food assistance accepted at Fulton Street Market May 17, 2024, Keewenaw Report,Houghton Kicking Off Farmer's Market Season With A Local Focus May 13, 2024, Wood Radio 106.9FM/1300AM,Holland Farmers Market to open for season Wednesday April 30, 2024, Upper Michigan Source, From The Ground Up Farmers Market Collective reminds community to utilize 'food bucks' program April 22, 2024, Bridge Michigan (reach of 7.8 million), Opinion, Farm bill imagines a sustainable, equitable, healthy food system January 17, 2024, Planet Detroit, Opinion, Why you should care about the 2024 farm bill November 21, 2023, Michigan State Democrats, Michigan Senate Democrats Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Look Back on Legislative and Budget Wins for Food Security in 2023 November 9, 2023, Planet Detroit, Double Up Food Bucks helps Detroit senior access fresh food October 17, 2023, The Washington Post (reach of 82.5 million), Opinion, Five reforms to reorient SNAP toward nutrition and health October 4, 2023, Detroit Free Press, Michigan families can once again get $20-a-day match for produce purchases In the coming year, we will continue to rely on strategies similar to those shared above -- attending the annual convening, smaller events, press outreach and conversations with reporters, and our annual report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan As of September 2024, 238 locations in Michigan offer Double Up Food Bucks. There are Double Up locations in 68 of Michigan's 82 counties, and 97% of Michigan residents live in a county offering Double Up. Throughout this grant period, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many retailers shut down or changed the way they operated, leading to fluctuations in the number of Double Up sites. Over the course of this five-year project, the Double Up program saw a modest overall contraction in the number of program sites in the state, with 61 sites added to the program and 70 lost to attrition. In 2022, in response to the COVID-19 related surge in demand, we shifted focus from expanding to all counties to supporting the greatest number of program participants we could effectively reach. While this shift allowed us to focus our efforts on areas with the highest concentrations of SNAP users, we did see a significant contraction of farmers markets statewide. Many of these markets are small, community markets with a few produce vendors in one location. Yet, despite low-capacity and lower-than-average Double Up spending, community markets are crucial to food access in Michigan, especially in urban areas. Community markets address barriers to access and support building resilient local food systems starting on a small scale. In the past year, we have worked actively to meet with market managers, re-engage them in the program, and strengthen our connections with the markets and potential vendors through our work with Detroit's Eastern Market and Southeast Michigan urban farms. Urban farms specifically aim to support community markets, yet are dealing with their own capacity issues. As we look to support and grow Double Up access in Michigan, we will continue to focus on supporting community markets and the critical role they can play in offering community-based healthy food access to SNAP participants. In the grocery sector, despite the unanticipated shifts brought on by the COVID-19 crisis, we saw significant growth during the grant period, adding 6 locations in this reporting period and a net 21 grocery sites for the grant period -- an increase of 23% since the start of this project. And despite the unanticipated attrition of stores, the value of fresh, local produce sold by farmers and food retailers to Double Up consumers increased substantially with each year of the program (see Goal 4, below). In 2025, we will continue in our efforts to optimize the number, location, and type of Double Up sites to ensure we are reaching program goals for broadening access as efficiently as possible. As program usage and funding permits, we will look to broaden program reach through targeted, intentional expansion, with the goal of promoting the program in high-need areas while making Double Up as easy as possible for program participants to use. Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up. Currently, we calculate program reach by dividing total spending by average household spending to determine the number of program participants. Given the shifts in grocery costs and SNAP eligibility during COVID-19, this formula is not an extremely accurate representation of program reach; however, it remains the best and most consistent way to compare year-to-year program growth. We are updating our formula for estimating the number of households served and managing expectations of how useful estimated program reach is in determining program impact. By our current measure, total earning and spending at all Michigan Double Up locations in this period equaled $11,671,467; accordingly, the estimated number of individuals served was 363,365, or approximately 27% of Michigan's SNAP population of 1.365 million. Although our estimated totals are just shy of our goal of reaching 30% of Michigan's SNAP population, we did effectively double the percentage of SNAP participants in the state using Double Up -- from 13% to 27%. In the five-year grant period, we estimate that Double Up served nearly one million households, with combined earning and spending totaling more than $65 million. In this reporting period, we focused less on broadening program reach and more on communicating important program changes to reignite and maximize usage by existing Double Up users. As we emerged from the temporary pause on grocery store earning (August 2022-January 2023) and the period of program modulations (January 2023-September 2023), it was necessary to ensure SNAP shoppers were well-informed of the program's return to pre-pandemic earning and spending parameters. We employed a variety of methods to communicate these program changes, including signage and direct outreach by our Program Ambassadors and Community Engagement Coordinator at Double Up sites and partner events, direct-to-consumer marketing, and the increased functionality of the Double Up loyalty card. Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives. In January 2023, in response to the unprecedented program usage of the last 2+ years, we restarted Double Up earning in all sites following a temporary pause in earning at grocery stores. At this time, we also introduced several program modulations, including a daily spending limit and reduction of the daily earning limit (from $20/day to $10/day), that had the intended effect of slowing overall program spending. The attendant increase in marketing and communications expenditures to make every eligible family aware of their available benefits once the program resumed with conventional earning and spending limits in October 2023 had the effect of reducing the percentage of the program budget spent directly on incentives, from 71 percent in the previous reporting period to 65 percent in 2023. However, across the entire period of this project, nearly 73 percent of the Double Up budget was spent as incentives by program participants on fresh fruits and vegetables. The unanticipated spending fluctuations that occurred throughout this grant period as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures certainly affected program spending in unprecedented ways; nevertheless, we are pleased with the overall outcome of our efforts in pursuit of this goal and we are confident that as the economy stabilizes we will continue to increase spending so that incentives account for 75% or more of the program budget. Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. Stores participating in Double Up have seen a tremendous increase in the value of Michigan produce purchased each year. As part of our commitment to supporting Michigan agriculture, annual Double Up contracts with grocers require them to procure at least 20 percent of their total produce from Michigan growers in July-November, and to provide documentation of this sourcing. In this reporting period, we continued to work with Michigan State University Extension and Michigan nonprofit, Taste the Local Difference, to build connections between local producers, distributors, and Double Up retailers. Largely as a result of these concerted efforts to boost sales for local farmers, the dollar amount of Michigan produce purchased by Double Up retailers is annually more than 15 times the amount purchased in the program's first year. The annual value of local produce sold at Double Up sites has increased nearly threefold over the course of this project. From September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020, Michigan Double Up sites purchased just under $5 million of local produce; by 2023, that annual value exceeded $14 million. In 2023, 17% of the total fruits and vegetables purchased by Double Up grocers was fresh, Michigan-grown produce, representing nearly two million pounds of nutritious fruits and vegetables for Michigan families in the last year alone. For the project, 15% of produce purchased by participating sites was locally grown.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: [not published] Farmers Market Training for Michigan Market Managers. Available at: https://fairfoodnetwork.egnyte.com/dl/kzIy9yO1mw
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: [not published] Farm Stand Training for Michigan Farmers. Available at: https://fairfoodnetwork.egnyte.com/dl/fO9tE35clo
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Record-keeping Toolkit for Farmers Market Vendors (Large Print Customer Transaction Records, Vendor Redemption and Reimbursement Records, and Vendor Agreements). Available at: https://doubleupfoodbucks.org/market-managers-portal/ (Password: Asparagus)

Progress 09/01/19 to 11/28/23

Outputs
Target Audience:We obtain characteristics of the target audience by surveying individuals participating in Double Up Food Bucks at markets and grocery stores. Our most recent evaluation (2022) found that program participants were primarily Black (57 percent), non-Hispanic White (30 percent), Latinx (8 percent), or mixed race (5%) and predominantly female (73 percent), with distribution across age groups. In this year's sample, more than half of respondents (53 percent) indicated they were food insecure, with 68 percent reporting that the pandemic made it difficult for their families to make ends meet and 50 percent reporting that the pandemic made it hard for their family to procure fruits and vegetables. Thirty-five percent of Double Up users in 2022 self-reported their health status as "poor," an increase from 2021 (25%) and more than twice the percentage of Michigan adults from the general population selecting "poor" as their health status. Changes/Problems:Temporary pause on earnings in grocery stores and earning/spending modifications. Due to pandemic-related demand, increased emergency SNAP benefits, and record inflation, Double Up program usage in Michigan more than doubled between 2019 and 2022. A constant challenge for Double Up since the onset of the pandemic has been meeting this elevated demand and broadening access while ensuring that individuals, families, and farmers are getting the most out of the program. To this end, and to sustain Double Up for the long-term, we made the difficult decision to pause Double Up earning at grocery stores across the state (excluding Flint) from August 1, 2022 through January 15, 2023. The temporary pause on earnings did not apply to purchases at farm stands or farmers markets, and all program participants were still able to spend what they earned from previous purchases. The temporary pause was successful in its aim to slow the flow of spending, and in 2023, Fair Food Network and Double Up transitioned into more conventional program earning and spending. To modulate spending as needed while identifying additional funding, we introduced levers in program implementation, including a cap on individual earning (decreased from $20/day to $10/day), a cap on individual spending ($10/day), and a defined window (90 days) in which users can spend their earnings. These mechanisms allowed us to moderate spending as needed and more nimbly respond to shifts in demand, ensuring continuity and consistency across our Double Up program sites and the communities we serve. While temporarily pausing Double Up has been a method we've used in the past to slow incentive spending, we would far prefer to offer Double Up year-round as a consistent service for Michigan residents. Securing both state and federal funding was critical milestone to that has already allowed us to address the barriers to program usage most frequently cited by shoppers and participating sites. In June 2023, the State of Michigan allocated $4 million over the remainder of fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to help match Double Up Michigan's federal funding. In late September, we were informed that Double Up Michigan's grant application was successful in securing $8.4 million for fiscal years 2024-2025. On October 1, 2023, Double Up increased the benefit earning limit to its pre-pandemic level of $20/day and eliminated the cap on previously earned benefits that can be spent in a single day. With the cessation of the spending limit and increase in the earning limit, we have observed that incentive spending has ramped up gradually in line with outreach efforts to communicate the changes to SNAP participants and Double Up sites. This change will make a meaningful difference for those in Michigan using SNAP and Double Up to supplement their monthly food budget and bring home healthy food. Metric for calculating individuals served. In terms of program evaluation, we are working to update our methods/calculations to determine the estimated number of individuals served by the Double Up Food Bucks program and to manage expectations and limitations of program reach as a measure of program impact. Currently, we calculate program reach by dividing total spending by average household spending to determine the number of program participants. Given the spike in both program and household spending, this formula is no longer the best representation of program reach, yet it remains the most consistent way to compare year-to-year program growth. In the coming year, we will transition to a more precise method to calculate the estimated number of people served by our program, while providing qualitative data that demonstrates program impact. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The following is a list in-person training and professional development events the Double Up team has attended in this reporting period: Essential Needs Task Force Food & Nutrition Coalition Meetings, Ongoing monthly White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, September 2022 WIC Vendor Conference, September 2022 MIFMA Year-End Food Access Meeting, November, 2022 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Resource Fair, December 2022 University of Michigan Dearborn Resource Fair, January 2023 MIFMA Annual Conference, March 2023 Trinity Health Come to the Table Event, March 2023 Nutrition Incentive Hub Mini Convening, April 2023 University of Detroit Mercy Health Fair, May 2023 MDHHS Navigator Training, May 2023 Hope Village Farmers Market Launch Event, May 2023 Michigan Potato Site Visits in Detroit, May 2023 Great Grocer Fellowship Meeting, Ongoing monthly Parent Education and Resource Fair in Flint, June 2023 National Nutrition Incentive Hub Convening, June 2023 Edible Flint Children's Day, June 2023 Westland Farmers Market Senior Project Fresh Tabling, June 2023 Project Healthy Communities Outreach Meetings, Ongoing WIC Project Fresh Resource Fair, July 2023 Senior Center Outreach events with Senior FMNP, July 2023 Men's Health Event at Ford Field, August 2023 Celebrating a Healthier Detroit Expo, August 2023 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fair Food Network is always seeking opportunities to share our experiences, to exchange information with national practitioners, and to disseminate lessons learned. We share our annual report on Double Up Food Bucks on the Fair Food Network website, in addition to sharing it directly with established partners. The report illustrates the impact Double Up programs are having on community health and wealth nationwide, and includes detailed program statistics for 2022, as well as spotlights on specific geographies, reports on program and policy developments, and plans for future expansion of the Double Up program. Key media coverage that highlighted Double Up Food Bucks over the last year included the following: The U.S. diet is deadly. Here are 7 ideas to get Americans eating healthier // August 31, 2022. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/31/1120004717/the-u-s-diet-is-deadly-here-are-7-ideas-to-get-americans-eating-healthier To Promote Equity, Include These Key Provisions In Upcoming Nutrition Legislation // August 31, 2022. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/promote-equity-include-these-key-provisions-upcoming-nutrition-legislation Cropping Up: Double Up Food Bucks // August 15, 2022. Utah Public Radio. https://www.upr.org/show/cropping-up/2022-08-15/cropping-up-double-up-food-bucks Fair Food Network Repairs the World Through Food // July 19, 2022. The Detroit Jewish News. https://thejewishnews.com/2022/07/19/fair-food-network-repairs-the-world-through-food/ Can Food Taxes and Subsidies Help Improve Health Outcomes? // June 23, 2022. UConn Today. https://today.uconn.edu/2022/06/can-food-taxes-and-subsidies-help-improve-health-outcomes/# Oran Hesterman to step down from Fair Food Network // June 8, 2022. Crain's Detroit Business. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofit/fair-food-network-ceo-oran-hesterman-step-down Consumers Increasingly Seek Help From Food Incentive Programs // May 13, 2022. Progressive Grocer. https://progressivegrocer.com/consumers-increasingly-seek-help-food-incentive-programs United Way gets $75K grant to address food insecurity // March 25, 2022. The Alpena News. https://www.thealpenanews.com/life/2022/03/united-way-gets-75k-grant-to-address-food-insecurity/ A Boost to Nutrition Assistance During Pandemic Is A Boost To Farmers' Markets // November 29, 2021. FoodPrint. https://foodprint.org/blog/nutrition-assistance-expansion/ Fresh Produce More Accessible for Low-Income Michiganders // November 18, 2021. Spartan News Room. https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/09/fresh-produce-more-accessible-for-low-income-michiganders/ Double-Up Programs Make Headway at Food Banks // November 18, 2021. Food Bank News. https://foodbanknews.org/double-up-programs-make-headway-at-food-banks/ Critics say it's time to stop using the term "food deserts" // September 26, 2021. Governing Magazine. https://www.governing.com/community/critics-say-its-time-to-stop-using-the-term-food-deserts Fresh produce more accessible for low-income Michiganders. // September 24, 2021. Capital News Service, Spartan Newsroom. https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/09/fresh-produce-more-accessible-for-low-income-michiganders/ Fair Food Network Stepped Up to Meet the Moment //September 1, 2021. The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal. https://crazywisdomjournal.squarespace.com/featuredstories/2021/8/25/fair-food-network-stepped-up-to-meet-the-moment They create jobs, open farmers' markets, and make local food resilient, just, and equitable. Chances are, you've never heard of them. // September 1, 2021. The Counter. https://thecounter.org/local-food-systems-development-farmers-markets-jobs-impact/ In the coming year, we will continue to rely on strategies similar to those shared above -- a large annual convening, smaller events, press outreach and conversations with reporters, and our annual report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Below is an implementation timeline for Double Up in Michigan for 2024. Attend Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) Year-End Food Access Meeting November 2023 Hold the annual retailer winter webinar to share important program updates and reminders January Deliver grocery store training program for grocery store owners, cashiers, and produce managers Ongoing Provide grocery stores with suite of in-store marketing materials to promote program and feature local produce including price cards, window signs, etc. January, then as needed Introduce & connect regional program ambassadors with retailers/markets and community partners in their geographies Jan-Mar, then as needed Distribute outreach materials to community partners Jan-Apr, then as needed Deliver farmers market training program for all market managers and farmers and attend the Michigan Farmers Market Association's (MIFMA) Annual Conference for recruiting, networking, and information sharing March Provide farmers markets and vendors with informational displays including posters, yard signs, flyers, vendor signs, etc. Mar-June, then as needed Equip and train all project partners in direct contact with SNAP recipients to effectively recruit SNAP recipients to enroll in and use the program April, then ongoing Provide technical assistance to customers and participating outlets online and via toll-free hotline Ongoing Visit participating grocery stores to survey and interview produce managers and other store staff to assess local produce in stock and retailer needs April-Nov Visit participating farmers markets and farm stands to assess site staff understanding, prevalence of signage, and troubleshoot site needs May-Oct Attend community events to promote the program and enroll SNAP recipients at participating outlets and via authorized community organizations Ongoing, peaking in spring/summer Facilitate external evaluation of customer and retailer experience via surveys, focus groups, and interviews Ongoing, peaking in spring/summer Coordinate site visits for new and remote FFN staff members to increase internal understanding of our program work Spring and Fall Meet internally and with partners to plan for upcoming year Nov-Dec

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan Our priority at the start of this USDA grant was to support Michigan families by increasing the number of Double Up sites statewide and broadening accessibility by establishing sites in every county. In 2022, we shifted focus to instead supporting the greatest number of program participants we can effectively reach. While this shift allowed us to focus our efforts on areas of the state with the highest concentrations of SNAP users during the COVID-19 crisis, we did see attrition in Double Up sites in this period, with a modest contraction of farmers markets statewide. From September 2022-August 2023, Fair Food Network implemented Double Up at 237 locations across 67 Michigan counties. This represents attrition of 3 grocery stores and 13 farmers markets in this reporting period. As we look to 2024, we will continue our efforts to optimize the number, location, and type of Double Up sites to ensure we are reaching program goals as efficiently as possible. As program usage and funding permits, we will look to broaden program reach through targeted, intentional expansion in the coming year, with the goal of promoting the program in high-need areas while making Double Up as easy as possible for program participants to use. Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up. Our estimation of individuals served by the Double Up program and the percentage of SNAP households using the program is a function of incentive spending (see Challenges, below). In the year prior to this reporting period, we estimate that Double Up served nearly 300,000 Michiganders -- a figure elevated by pandemic-related program spending, which totaled $18,800,470. In this reporting period, we implemented a temporary pause on Double Up earning in grocery stores for 5.5 months (August 1, 2022-January 15, 2023). As we ended the pause at the beginning of 2023, the program instituted several modifications designed to keep incentive spending within Double Up's multi-year budget. These modifications, including a reduction in the earning cap (from $20/day to $10/day) and introduction of a spending cap ($10/day), as well as a 90-day expiration on earned benefits, extended through the end of this reporting period (9/30/2023) and successfully modulated Double Up earning and spending statewide. Due to those program changes, incentive spending was reduced to $7,261,761 in this reporting period, with shoppers spending 83 percent of earned incentives. As a consequence of intentionally decreased spending, our measure of the number of individuals served in this reporting period was reduced accordingly. We estimate that Double Up reached 122,864 Michiganders, or 9% of Michigan's SNAP population. The reduction in incentive spending allowed Double Up to remain within its multi-year budget so we can sustainably offer nutrition incentives to the greatest number of program participants going forward. While the pause on earnings in grocery stores achieved the objective of slowing spending, it naturally resulted in a decrease in the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income families and less Double Up-associated revenue for participating grocery stores. That said, instituting the cap on spending and lowering the cap on earning was a decision in line with other nutrition incentive programs across the US, which frequently employ such earning caps. As soon as it was feasible upon receiving funding from the State of Michigan and the USDA in August 2023, the Double Up program eliminated the cap on incentive spending entirely and increased the earning limit to its pre-pandemic maximum of $20/day. Based on our projections, we are confident that the program's return to our pre-pandemic earning and spending parameters will pave the way to double the percentage of SNAP households using Double Up in the last year of this grant. Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives. The pause on grocery store earning, as well as modulation of incentive spending through establishment of a daily spending limit and reduction of the daily earning limit, had the intended effect of slowing overall program spending. This significant decrease in program spending, combined with increased marketing and communications expenditures to make every eligible family aware of their available benefits once the program resumed in January 2023, had the effect of reducing the percentage of the program budget spent directly on incentives, from 79 percent in the previous reporting period to 71 percent from September 2022-August 2023. It's important to note that two initiatives that significantly boosted spending during the pandemic -- the broadening of SNAP benefits through Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) and the lifting of all earning and spending limits to contend with COVID-19 and rising inflation -- expired during this reporting period. During the height of COVID-19, P-EBT benefits and unlimited Double Up earning and spending had the effect of drastically driving up spending on incentives. At the same time, we were able to streamline other program expenses. We believe that the differential between the percentage of the budget spent directly on incentives from one period to the next is the result of these significant changes in accessibility and spending limits. Over the last year of the grant, it is our expectation that we will continue to adapt spending so that incentives account for 75 percent or more of the program budget, increase access and usage of the program to increase incentive spending, and reduce spending in non-incentive areas of the program by streamlining other program expenses and overhead costs. Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. Over the course of this grant, stores participating in Double Up Michigan -- which requires that at least 20% of total produce purchased in July-November is Michigan-grown -- saw a tremendous increase in total purchases from Michigan growers. The value of Michigan produce purchased by Double Up sites increased with each year of the grant. From September 1, 2019 to August 31,2020, Double Up sites statewide purchased just under $5 million of local produce; by 2023, that annual value has exceeded $14 million -- a nearly threefold year-to-year increase. Double Up Food Bucks continued to work with important partners in the Michigan food system to increase demand for local produce. Local sourcing requires an individualized approach and an understanding of the challenges at every step in the process. Our work with Taste the Local Difference (TLD) and Michigan Potato highlights two of the ways that Fair Food Network endeavors to increase demand for and access to local produce at our partner sites. TLD helps retailers manage the challenge of forming lasting business relationships with local farmers, distributors, and food hubs so they can continue to build on and expand their connections to the local food ecosystem. Our collaboration with TLD was one factor in the increased percentage of local produce purchases at a cohort of Double Up retailers in Southeast Michigan. In 2022-2023, TLD and the Double Up team engaged with partners at Eastern Market's produce distribution arm to coordinate an event in which Detroit grocers were able to meet with a Michigan farmer distributing to grocers and learn more about Eastern Market's produce distribution options. Retailers from 3 grocery stores attended the event and one store began ordering from Eastern Market for some of their Michigan produce. We also engaged with Michigan Potato on a marketing campaign at 5 grocery stores in Detroit to increase awareness of Michigan potatoes. Stores were provided with a marketing kit that included recipes, how to store potatoes, and information about the farms where the potatoes were grown.

Publications

Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:We obtain characteristics of the target audience by surveying individuals participating in Double Up Food Bucks at markets and grocery stores. Our most recent evaluation (2022) found that program participants were primarily Black (57 percent), non-Hispanic White (30 percent), Latinx (8 percent), or mixed race (5%) and predominantly female (73 percent), with distribution across age groups. In this year's sample, more than half of respondents (53 percent) indicated they were food insecure, with 68 percent reporting that the pandemic made it difficult for their families to make ends meet and 50 percent reporting that the pandemic made it hard for their family to procure fruits and vegetables. Thirty-five percent of Double Up users in 2022 self-reported their health status as "poor," an increase from 2021 (25%) and more than twice the percentage of Michigan adults from the general population selecting "poor" as their health status. Changes/Problems:Temporary pause on earnings in grocery stores and earning/spending modifications. Due to pandemic-related demand, increased emergency SNAP benefits, and record inflation, Double Up program usage in Michigan more than doubled between 2019 and 2022. A constant challenge for Double Up since the onset of the pandemic has been meeting this elevated demand and broadening access while ensuring that individuals, families, and farmers are getting the most out of the program. To this end, and to sustain Double Up for the long-term, we made the difficult decision to pause Double Up earning at grocery stores across the state (excluding Flint) from August 1, 2022 through January 15, 2023. The temporary pause on earnings did not apply to purchases at farm stands or farmers markets, and all program participants were still able to spend what they earned from previous purchases. The temporary pause was successful in its aim to slow the flow of spending, and in 2023, Fair Food Network and Double Up transitioned into more conventional program earning and spending. To modulate spending as needed while identifying additional funding, we introduced levers in program implementation, including a cap on individual earning (decreased from $20/day to $10/day), a cap on individual spending ($10/day), and a defined window (90 days) in which users can spend their earnings. These mechanisms allowed us to moderate spending as needed and more nimbly respond to shifts in demand, ensuring continuity and consistency across our Double Up program sites and the communities we serve. While temporarily pausing Double Up has been a method we've used in the past to slow incentive spending, we would far prefer to offer Double Up year-round as a consistent service for Michigan residents. Securing both state and federal funding was critical milestone to that has already allowed us to address the barriers to program usage most frequently cited by shoppers and participating sites. In June 2023, the State of Michigan allocated $4 million over the remainder of fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to help match Double Up Michigan's federal funding. In late September, we were informed that Double Up Michigan's grant application was successful in securing $8.4 million for fiscal years 2024-2025. On October 1, 2023, Double Up increased the benefit earning limit to its pre-pandemic level of $20/day and eliminated the cap on previously earned benefits that can be spent in a single day. With the cessation of the spending limit and increase in the earning limit, we have observed that incentive spending has ramped up gradually in line with outreach efforts to communicate the changes to SNAP participants and Double Up sites. This change will make a meaningful difference for those in Michigan using SNAP and Double Up to supplement their monthly food budget and bring home healthy food. Metric for calculating individuals served. In terms of program evaluation, we are working to update our methods/calculations to determine the estimated number of individuals served by the Double Up Food Bucks program and to manage expectations and limitations of program reach as a measure of program impact. Currently, we calculate program reach by dividing total spending by average household spending to determine the number of program participants. Given the spike in both program and household spending, this formula is no longer the best representation of program reach, yet it remains the most consistent way to compare year-to-year program growth. In the coming year, we will transition to a more precise method to calculate the estimated number of people served by our program, while providing qualitative data that demonstrates program impact. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The following is a list in-person training and professional development events the Double Up team has attended in this reporting period: Essential Needs Task Force Food & Nutrition Coalition Meetings, Ongoing monthly White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, September 2022 WIC Vendor Conference, September 2022 MIFMA Year-End Food Access Meeting, November, 2022 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Resource Fair, December 2022 University of Michigan Dearborn Resource Fair, January 2023 MIFMA Annual Conference, March 2023 Trinity Health Come to the Table Event, March 2023 Nutrition Incentive Hub Mini Convening, April 2023 University of Detroit Mercy Health Fair, May 2023 MDHHS Navigator Training, May 2023 Hope Village Farmers Market Launch Event, May 2023 Michigan Potato Site Visits in Detroit, May 2023 Great Grocer Fellowship Meeting, Ongoing monthly Parent Education and Resource Fair in Flint, June 2023 National Nutrition Incentive Hub Convening, June 2023 Edible Flint Children's Day, June 2023 Westland Farmers Market Senior Project Fresh Tabling, June 2023 Project Healthy Communities Outreach Meetings, Ongoing WIC Project Fresh Resource Fair, July 2023 Senior Center Outreach events with Senior FMNP, July 2023 Men's Health Event at Ford Field, August 2023 Celebrating a Healthier Detroit Expo, August 2023 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fair Food Network is always seeking opportunities to share our experiences, to exchange information with national practitioners, and to disseminate lessons learned. We share our annual report on Double Up Food Bucks on the Fair Food Network website, in addition to sharing it directly with established partners. The report illustrates the impact Double Up programs are having on community health and wealth nationwide, and includes detailed program statistics for 2022, as well as spotlights on specific geographies, reports on program and policy developments, and plans for future expansion of the Double Up program. Key media coverage that highlighted Double Up Food Bucks over the last year included the following: Congressman Dan Kildee introduces expansion to fruits, vegetables assistance program // August 7, 2023. Midland Daily News. https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/congressman-kildee-introduces-expansion-fruits-18282787.php New legislation aims to expand food assistance for Michiganders and help farmers // August 1, 2023. Mid-Michigan Now. https://wsbt.com/news/regional/new-legislation-aims-to-expand-food-assistance-for-michiganders-and-help-farmers Michigan's new state budget: 5 programs that could save residents money // August 1, 2023. Detroit Free Press. https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/01/michigan-state-budget-whitmer/70498702007/ New legislation aims to expand food assistance for Michiganders and help farmers // August 1, 2023. WWMT News Channel 3. https://wwmt.com/news/state/new-legislation-aims-to-expand-food-assistance-for-michiganders-and-help-farmers Food assistance could get boost from Kildee's legislation // July 25, 2023. Michigan Advance. https://michiganadvance.com/2023/07/25/food-assistance-could-get-boost-from-kildees-legislation/ How will the state budget lower costs for Michigan residents? // July 14, 2023. CBS News Now. https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-state-budget-gretchen-whitmer-lowering-costs/ Congress tackles food stamp changes in the farm bill // July 11, 2023. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/11/1185499996/congress-tackles-food-stamp-changes-in-the-farm-bill Legislature finalizes state agriculture budget, Farm Bureau expert analyzes // July 6, 2023. Michigan Farm News. https://www.michiganfarmnews.com/legislature-finalizes-state-agriculture-budget Whitmer Applauds Passage of Make it in Michigan Budget // June 28, 2023. State of Michigan. https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2023/06/28/whitmer-applauds-passage-of-make-it-in-michigan-budget Michigan Fitness Foundation connects families to farmers and fresh, locally grown food // May 24, 2023. Second Wave Michigan. https://www.secondwavemedia.com/features/mf2fcsa05242023.aspx A new prescription for good health at Farmacy in Battle Creek // May 11, 2023. Second Wave Southwest Michigan. https://www.secondwavemedia.com/southwest-michigan/features/A-new-prescription-for-good-health-at-Farmacy-in-Battle-Creek.%20051123.aspx Fair Food Network CEO refocuses on Detroit // May 9, 2023. Crain's Detroit Business. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/Reprints-CD23056FairFoodNetwork People Won't Be Able to Eat Healthier Unless We Make It Possible // April 18, 2023. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://blog.ucsusa.org/alice-reznickova/people-wont-be-able-to-eat-healthier-unless-we-make-it-possible/ With hunger on the rise, Food Bank Council asks the Michigan Legislature to boost funding // April 9, 2023. Michigan Advance. https://michiganadvance.com/2023/04/09/with-hunger-on-the-rise-food-bank-council-asks-the-michigan-legislature-to-boost-funding/ Fair Food Network Moves to Detroit // April 3, 2023. Council of Michigan Foundations. https://www.michiganfoundations.org/news/fair-food-network-moves-detroit 'A very dark time': SNAP cuts leave Michigan families, food banks struggling // March 19, 2023. Michigan Advance. https://michiganadvance.com/2023/03/19/a-very-dark-time-snap-cuts-leave-michigan-families-food-banks-struggling/ Michigan food pantries brace for influx of families: 'March is going to be a tough month'. // March 15, 2023. Detroit Free Press. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/03/15/food-pantries-snap-benefits-michigan/69969105007/ What SNAP recipients can expect as benefits shrink in March // March 7, 2023. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/03/07/1161417967/snap-benefits-food-stamps COVID-era extra food assistance for Michigan families ending in March // February 19, 2023. Holland Sentinel. https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/state/2023/02/19/covid-era-extra-food-assistance-for-michigan-families-ending-in-march/69912130007/ Extra food assistance ending soon in MIchigan //February 4, 2023. Oakland Press. https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2023/02/04/extra-food-assistance-ending-soon-in-michigan/ New law will end COVID emergency funding for SNAP recipients // February 3, 2023. Michigan Radio. https://www.michiganradio.org/community/2023-02-03/new-law-will-end-covid-emergency-funding-for-snap-recipients Temporary pause on food assistance produce program lifts in January // November 30, 2022. Detroit Free Press. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/11/30/food-assistance-product-program-to-lift-grocery-store-pause-in-january/69671354007/ Ann Arbor community reflects on Biden's promise to end hunger by 2030 // October 30, 2022. The Michigan Daily. https://www.michigandaily.com/government/ann-arbor-community-reflects-on-bidens-promise-to-end-hunger-by-2030%EF%BF%BC/ How One Rust Belt College is Transforming Its Local Food System // September 12, 2022. Civil Eats. https://civileats.com/2022/09/12/how-one-rust-belt-college-is-transforming-its-local-food-system/ In the coming year, we will continue to rely on strategies similar to those shared above -- a large annual convening, smaller events, press outreach and conversations with reporters, and our annual report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Below is an implementation timeline for Double Up in Michigan for 2024. Attend Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) Year-End Food Access Meeting November 2023 Hold the annual retailer winter webinar to share important program updates and reminders January Deliver grocery store training program for grocery store owners, cashiers, and produce managers Ongoing Provide grocery stores with suite of in-store marketing materials to promote program and feature local produce including price cards, window signs, etc. January, then as needed Introduce & connect regional program ambassadors with retailers/markets and community partners in their geographies Jan-Mar, then as needed Distribute outreach materials to community partners Jan-Apr, then as needed Deliver farmers market training program for all market managers and farmers and attend the Michigan Farmers Market Association's (MIFMA) Annual Conference for recruiting, networking, and information sharing March Provide farmers markets and vendors with informational displays including posters, yard signs, flyers, vendor signs, etc. Mar-June, then as needed Equip and train all project partners in direct contact with SNAP recipients to effectively recruit SNAP recipients to enroll in and use the program April, then ongoing Provide technical assistance to customers and participating outlets online and via toll-free hotline Ongoing Visit participating grocery stores to survey and interview produce managers and other store staff to assess local produce in stock and retailer needs April-Nov Visit participating farmers markets and farm stands to assess site staff understanding, prevalence of signage, and troubleshoot site needs May-Oct Attend community events to promote the program and enroll SNAP recipients at participating outlets and via authorized community organizations Ongoing, peaking in spring/summer Facilitate external evaluation of customer and retailer experience via surveys, focus groups, and interviews Ongoing, peaking in spring/summer Coordinate site visits for new and remote FFN staff members to increase internal understanding of our program work Spring and Fall Meet internally and with partners to plan for upcoming year Nov-Dec

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan Our priority at the start of this grant was to support Michigan families by increasing the number of Double Up sites statewide and broadening accessibility to the program by establishing sites in every county in the state. In 2022, we shifted focus from expanding Double Up to new counties to instead supporting the greatest number of program participants we can effectively reach. While this shift allowed us to focus our efforts on areas of the state with the highest concentrations of SNAP users during the COVID-19 crisis, we did see attrition in Double Up sites in this period, with a modest contraction of farmers markets statewide. From September 2022-August 2023, Fair Food Network implemented Double Up at 237 locations across 67 Michigan counties (109 grocery stores and 128 farmers markets and farm stands). This represents attrition of 3 grocery stores and 13 farmers markets in this reporting period. As we look to 2024, we will continue in our efforts to optimize the number, location, and type of Double Up sites to ensure we are reaching program goals for broadening access as efficiently as possible. As program usage and funding permits, we will look to broaden program reach through targeted, intentional expansion, with the goal of promoting the program in high-need areas while making Double Up as easy as possible for program participants to use. Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up. Our estimation of individuals served by the program and the percentage of SNAP households using the program is a function of incentive spending (see Challenges, below). In the year prior to this reporting period, we estimate that Double Up served nearly 300,000 Michiganders -- a figure elevated by pandemic-related program spending, which totaled $18,800,470. In this reporting period, we implemented a temporary pause on Double Up earning in grocery stores for 5.5 months (August 1, 2022-January 15, 2023). As we ended the pause at the beginning of 2023, the program instituted several modifications designed to keep incentive spending within the multi-year budget. These modifications, including a reduction in the earning cap (from $20/day to $10/day) and introduction of a spending cap ($10/day), as well as a 90-day expiration on earned benefits, extended through the end of this reporting period (9/30/2023) and successfully modulated Double Up earning and spending statewide. Due to those program changes, incentive spending was reduced to $7,261,761, with shoppers spending 83 percent of earned incentives. As a consequence of intentionally decreased spending, our measure of the number of individuals served in this reporting period was reduced accordingly. We estimate that Double Up reached 122,864 Michiganders, or 9% of Michigan's SNAP population. The reduction in incentive spending allowed Double Up to remain within its multi-year budget so we can sustainably offer nutrition incentives to the greatest number of program participants going forward. While the pause on earnings in grocery stores achieved the objective of slowing spending, it naturally resulted in a decrease in the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income families and less Double Up-associated revenue for participating grocery stores. These caps not only reduced the amount of allowable daily spending on Double Up, but, according to anecdotal accounts, may have discouraged some Double Up users who live far from participating sites or experience transportation barriers from utilizing Double Up at all. That said, instituting the cap on spending and lowering the cap on earning was a decision in line with other nutrition incentive programs across the US, which frequently employ such earning caps.. As soon as it was feasible upon receiving funding from the State of Michigan and the USDA in August 2023, the Double Up program eliminated the cap on incentive spending entirely and increased the earning limit to its pre-pandemic maximum of $20/day. Based on our projections, we are confident that the program's return to our pre-pandemic earning and spending parameters will pave the way to double the percentage of SNAP households using Double Up in the last year of this grant. Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives. The pause on grocery store earning, as well as modulation of incentive spending through establishment of a daily spending limit and reduction of the daily earning limit, had the intended effect of slowing overall program spending. This significant decrease in program spending, combined with increased marketing and communications expenditures to make every eligible family aware of their available benefits once the program resumed in January 2023, had the effect of reducing the percentage of the program budget spent directly on incentives, from 79 percent in the previous reporting period to 71 percent from September 2022-August 2023. It's important to note that two initiatives that significantly boosted spending during the pandemic -- the broadening of SNAP benefits through Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) and the lifting of all earning and spending limits to contend with COVID-19 and rising inflation -- expired during this reporting period. During the height of COVID-19, P-EBT benefits and unlimited Double Up earning and spending had the effect of drastically driving up spending on incentives. At the same time, we were able to streamline other program expenses. We believe that the differential between the percentage of the budget spent directly on incentives from one period to the next is the result of these significant changes in accessibility and spending limits. Over the last year of the grant, it is our expectation that we will continue to adapt spending so that incentives account for 75 percent or more of the program budget, increase access and usage of the program to increase incentive spending, and reduce spending in non-incentive areas of the program by streamlining other program expenses and overhead costs. Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. Over the course of this grant, stores participating in Double Up Michigan saw a tremendous increase in total purchases from Michigan growers. The value of Michigan produce purchased by Double Up sites increased with each year of the grant. From September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020, Double Up sites statewide purchased just under $5 million of local produce; by 2023, that annual value has exceeded $14 million -- a nearly threefold year-to-year increase. These purchases of fresh, local produce provided nearly two million pounds of nutritious fruits and vegetables for Michigan families in the last year alone. Double Up Food Bucks continued to work with important partners in the Michigan food system to increase demand for local produce. Our work with Taste the Local Difference (TLD) and Michigan Potato highlights two of the ways that Fair Food Network endeavors to increase demand for and access to local produce at our partner sites. Our collaboration with TLD was one factor in the increased percentage of local produce purchases at a cohort of Double Up retailers in Southeast Michigan. In 2022-2023, TLD and the Double Up team engaged with partners at Eastern Market's produce distribution arm to coordinate an event in which Detroit grocers were able to meet with a Michigan farmer distributing to grocers and learn more about Eastern Market's produce distribution options. Retailers from 3 grocery stores attended the event and one store began ordering from Eastern Market for some of their Michigan produce. We also engaged with Michigan Potato on a marketing campaign at 5 grocery stores in Detroit to increase awareness of Michigan potatoes. Stores were provided with a marketing kit that included recipes, how to store potatoes, and information about the farms where the potatoes were grown.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Michigan Double Up Food Bucks Overview - 2022. Available at: https://fairfoodnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FFN_DUFB_MI-Overview-2022-1.pdf
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Thilmany D, Baumann A, Love E, Jablonski Becca BR. January 2021. The Economic Contributions of Healthy Food Incentives. Available at https://fairfoodnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Economic_Contributions_Incentives_2_2_21.pdf
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: [DoubleUpFoodBucks.org. Available at: https://doubleupfoodbucks.org/
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: DoubleUpAmerica.org. Available at: https://doubleupamerica.org/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: MIFMA Year-End Food Access Meeting Presentation [not published]. December 2023. Available at: https://fairfoodnetwork.egnyte.com/navigate/file/b871e017-abd5-4387-a85b-fca0287a4c6b
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Double Up Food Bucks Informational Webinar for Community Partners [not published]. April 2023. Available at: https://fairfoodnetwork.egnyte.com/navigate/file/7dd61e3a-7d92-40cb-8f65-269ab75cb85b

Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Double Up Food Bucks helps to decrease hunger and increase access to healthy food for individuals and families who receive SNAP food assistance benefits. We obtain characteristics of the target audience by surveying individuals participating in Double Up Food Bucks at markets and grocery stores. Our most recent evaluation found that program participants were primarily non-Hispanic White (50 percent), Black (27 percent), or Hispanic (23 percent), and predominantly female (62 percent), with distribution across age groups. In this year's sample, more than half of respondents (57 percent) indicated they were food insecure, with 67 percent reporting they received free food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifty-six percent of Double Up shoppers used the program at two or three different site types (farmers market, grocery store, farm stand, small food store, mobile farm truck, or food pantry) at least twice per month. Changes/Problems:The overarching challenge of this reporting period, and throughout the COVID-19 crisis, has been the unprecedented increase in demand for Double Up Food Bucks. Whereas early in the pandemic this trend was driven by increasing SNAP enrollment, recent growth is likely the result of three factors: Word-of-mouth referrals and continued growing familiarity with Double Up in food insecure communities (including among cashiers and market managers) has driven increased participation in places like Flint and Detroit, where Double Up has maintained a presence for years. Inflation has caused fruits and vegetables to become 8-19 percent more expensive than they were one year ago. 2021 updates to the USDA Thrifty Food Plan led to a 21 percent across-the-board increase in benefits for existing SNAP recipients. Our priority at the onset of the pandemic was to support families by increasing the number of Double Up sites and broadening marketing efforts to make every eligible family aware of these available benefits. These efforts were successful in expanding program participation, yet the heightened demand for Double Up that began in 2020 remains steady and is preventing the program from expanding to serve more communities in Michigan. This is a disappointing setback that has forced Fair Food Network to pause Double Up earning at grocery stores in the fall of 2022. Fair Food Network is in active conversations with funders regarding Double Up's medium and long-term growth. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Opportunities for in-person training and professional development in 2022 have continued to be limited by coronavirus restrictions; nevertheless, we have attended online and some in-person events during the course of the reporting period: White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, September 2022 WIC Vendor Conference, September 2022 Northeast Michigan Food and Farm Alliance Meeting, August 2022 CSA Community of Practice Monthly Meetings, May 2022-October 2022 National Rural Grocery Summit, June 2022 White House Conference Listening Session, June 2022 Flint Registry Referral Partners Celebration, June 2022 Oakland Food Policy Council Advocacy Training, May 2022 MDHHS Partner Meeting, May 2022 Wayne County Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting, May 2022 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fair Food Network is always seeking opportunities to share our experiences, to exchange information with national practitioners, and to disseminate lessons learned. We share our annual report on Double Up Food Bucks on the Fair Food Network website, in addition to sharing it directly with established partners. The report illustrates the impact Double Up programs are having on community health and wealth nationwide, and includes detailed program statistics for 2021, as well as spotlights on specific geographies, reports on program and policy developments, and plans for future expansion of the Double Up program. Key media coverage that highlighted Double Up Food Bucks over the last year included the following: The U.S. diet is deadly. Here are 7 ideas to get Americans eating healthier // August 31, 2022. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/31/1120004717/the-u-s-diet-is-deadly-here-are-7-ideas-to-get-americans-eating-healthier To Promote Equity, Include These Key Provisions In Upcoming Nutrition Legislation // August 31, 2022. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/promote-equity-include-these-key-provisions-upcoming-nutrition-legislation Cropping Up: Double Up Food Bucks // August 15, 2022. Utah Public Radio. https://www.upr.org/show/cropping-up/2022-08-15/cropping-up-double-up-food-bucks Fair Food Network Repairs the World Through Food // July 19, 2022. The Detroit Jewish News. https://thejewishnews.com/2022/07/19/fair-food-network-repairs-the-world-through-food/ Can Food Taxes and Subsidies Help Improve Health Outcomes? // June 23, 2022. UConn Today. https://today.uconn.edu/2022/06/can-food-taxes-and-subsidies-help-improve-health-outcomes/# Oran Hesterman to step down from Fair Food Network // June 8, 2022. Crain's Detroit Business. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofit/fair-food-network-ceo-oran-hesterman-step-down Consumers Increasingly Seek Help From Food Incentive Programs // May 13, 2022. Progressive Grocer. https://progressivegrocer.com/consumers-increasingly-seek-help-food-incentive-programs United Way gets $75K grant to address food insecurity // March 25, 2022. The Alpena News. https://www.thealpenanews.com/life/2022/03/united-way-gets-75k-grant-to-address-food-insecurity/ A Boost to Nutrition Assistance During Pandemic Is A Boost To Farmers' Markets // November 29, 2021. FoodPrint. https://foodprint.org/blog/nutrition-assistance-expansion/ Fresh Produce More Accessible for Low-Income Michiganders // November 18, 2021. Spartan News Room. https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/09/fresh-produce-more-accessible-for-low-income-michiganders/ Double-Up Programs Make Headway at Food Banks // November 18, 2021. Food Bank News. https://foodbanknews.org/double-up-programs-make-headway-at-food-banks/ Critics say it's time to stop using the term "food deserts" // September 26, 2021. Governing Magazine. https://www.governing.com/community/critics-say-its-time-to-stop-using-the-term-food-deserts Fresh produce more accessible for low-income Michiganders. // September 24, 2021. Capital News Service, Spartan Newsroom. https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/09/fresh-produce-more-accessible-for-low-income-michiganders/ Fair Food Network Stepped Up to Meet the Moment //September 1, 2021. The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal. https://crazywisdomjournal.squarespace.com/featuredstories/2021/8/25/fair-food-network-stepped-up-to-meet-the-moment They create jobs, open farmers' markets, and make local food resilient, just, and equitable. Chances are, you've never heard of them. // September 1, 2021. The Counter. https://thecounter.org/local-food-systems-development-farmers-markets-jobs-impact/ In the coming year, we will continue to rely on strategies similar to those shared above -- a large annual convening, smaller events, press outreach and conversations with reporters, and our annual report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As part of our recent program evaluation, the University of Michigan School of Social Work's Program Evaluation Group (PEG) visited 20 stores and markets that accept Double Up Food Bucks, conducting interviews with managers and comparing stores with high and low levels of Double Up spending. Results from this survey point to a number of factors that positively impact Double Up spending and point to best practices as we aim to expand the program's reach and maximize customer satisfaction with Double Up: Staff buy-in: Managers at sites with high Double Up spending trained employees more extensively, promoted the program more frequently, and appeared more invested in and excited about the Double Up Food Bucks program. This level of commitment is essential to the growth of the program. In the next reporting period, we will continue to reinforce the need for store and market management to include Double Up as part of their regular training regimen. Store atmosphere: Sites with high Double Up spending were more likely to offer a wider variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. They were also busier than sites with low spending and were described by observers as having a more welcoming, friendly, and exciting atmosphere. To ensure that all sites are in compliance with program standards and offer an inviting atmosphere, we will continue to schedule regular site visits to promote the program and regulate implementation. In-person outreach and promotion: Signage may be impactful at direct markets but spending at grocery stores seems less impacted. Instead, hearing about the program from employees or other shoppers appears to be more important. To assist shoppers with their questions about Double Up, we onboarded 5 new Program Ambassadors in 2022. We will continue to onboard Program Ambassadors to promote the program, including one more ambassador in Flint in 2023. Training and technical assistance: Site managers brought up challenges with the administration of Double Up, including transitioning to the Double Up loyalty card system, cashiers mixing up earning and spending when issuing or redeeming Double Up dollars, and reconciling sales receipts with coupons and tokens. We encourage site managers to include program administration in ongoing trainings and to always email the Double Up team when they are in need of resources. To meet demand for assistance and promote the program, we routinely make site visits, train management to implement the program, and have extended the capacity of the Double Up hotline. To accomplish our stated goals, we will also implement several planned program changes. Renewal of paid promotions. We temporarily suspended digital advertising for the program in 2022 as a short-term solution to maximize the amount of the budget spent directly on nutrition incentives. In 2023, we will begin a new digital advertising and email campaign with a smaller budget than in years past, beginning in Flint in January with a campaign in partnership with WIC aimed at reaching expectant mothers, children aged 0-2, and their caregivers. This campaign will expand statewide in 2023 from July to December. 90-day expiration window. We have noted that some shoppers save incentives, risking losing them or forgetting to spend their earned Double Up. Beginning January 15, we will institute a new expiration window for the Double Up card and app. Program participants will have 90 days to spend incentives, after which time these benefits will expire. Reduction of daily earning limit and introduction of a spending limit. Another planned program change is the institution of a $10/day limit on Double Up earning and spending at all locations, beginning in January 2023. (Currently, there is a limit on earning of $20/day.) This measure was designed to regulate participant spending so that funds can be distributed more evenly throughout the program year. Temporary pause on earning in grocery stores. Finally, the continued dramatic spike in program participation, combined with record rates of inflation, means that demand has exceeded our available funding. Unfortunately, current funding has not kept pace with the unanticipated growth of the program during this unprecedented crisis. We are working to reliably and sustainably serve our Double Up community (participant shoppers, retailers, and farmers) and support the long-term sustainability and planned growth of Double Up. Consequently, we made the decision to temporarily pause Double Up earning at participating Michigan grocery stores (excluding all Double Up Flint locations) from August 1-December 31, 2022. During this time,shoppers will not earn Double Up Food Bucks in grocery stores but will be able to spend any Double Up earned prior to August 1. Double Up shoppers will still be able to earn and spend Double Up Food Bucks as usual at participating Michigan farmers markets. This temporary pause will end in early 2023, at which time program participants can begin earning Double Up at grocery stores once again. Below is an implementation timeline for Double Up in Michigan for 2023. Deliver grocery store training program for grocery store owners, cashiers, and produce managers Ongoing Provide grocery stores with suite of in-store marketing materials to promote program and feature local produce including price cards, window signs, etc. January, then as needed Introduce & connect regional program ambassadors with retailers/markets and community partners in their geographies Jan-Mar, then as needed Distribute outreach materials to community partners Jan-Apr, then as needed Deliver farmers market training program for all market managers and farmers March Provide farmers markets and vendors with informational displays including posters, yard signs, flyers, vendor signs, etc. Mar-June, then as needed Equip and train all project partners in direct contact with SNAP recipients to effectively recruit SNAP recipients to enroll in and use the program April, then Ongoing Provide technical assistance to customers and participating outlets online and via toll-free hotline Ongoing Visit participating grocery stores to survey and interview produce managers and other store staff to assess local produce in stock and retailer needs April-Nov Visit participating farmers markets and farm stands to assess site staff understanding, prevalence of signage, and troubleshoot site needs May-Oct Attend community events to promote the program and enroll SNAP recipients at participating outlets and via authorized community organizations Ongoing, peaking in spring/summer Facilitate external evaluation of customer and retailer experience via surveys, focus groups, and interviews Ongoing, peaking in spring/summer Meet internally and with partners to plan for upcoming year Nov-Dec

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Below we have included detailed Activities and Outcomes for each of our four main four-year goals. Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan Double Up's growth this period was driven by increased demand at existing locations rather than significant expansion of the program to additional retailers. We shifted focus from expanding Double Up to new counties to supporting the greatest number of program participants we could effectively reach. These efforts led to modest expansion of participating sites alongside a substantial increase in individuals served in areas with a higher concentration of SNAP participants. From September 2021-August 2022, Fair Food Network implemented Double Up at 253 locations across 67 Michigan counties (112 grocery stores and 141 farmers markets and farm stands), with attrition in Branch and Lenawee Counties. We added 9 new Double Up sites to the program in the past year. Ninety-six percent of Michigan residents lived in a county with Double Up last year. Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up. The Double Up program reached an estimated 673,256 Michiganders over the past year -- an increase of nearly 173,000 over the previous year's total and nearly 52 percent of the 1.3 million SNAP users in Michigan. Demand for Double Up Food Bucks has continued at an accelerated rate this reporting period in the face of record inflation and the continued health and economic effects of the pandemic. In each of the past two years, program usage (earning + spending) has been nearly triple pre-pandemic levels, totaling $17,538,032 in combined SNAP and Double Up purchases from September 2021 to August 2022, with shoppers spending 84 percent of earned incentives over this period. We are pleased that we were able to respond to the elevated demand by Michigan families for Double Up Food Bucks, and have learned in the process the value of responding to unanticipated crises like the COVID-19 pandemic with a consistently evaluative approach that allows adjustments along the way. To this end, as demand for Double Up continued unabated, we are controlling program expenditures by reinstating the earning cap at farmers markets and grocery stores while streamlining program delivery to increase the percentage of the program budget spent directly on incentives. (As of this reporting period, 79 percent of the budget went toward nutrition incentives for program participants.) We also pivoted our marketing efforts to match the needs of the program by discontinuing digital ad spending statewide and pausing monthly shopper and partner e-newsletters. These efforts modulated program spending, yet it is clear that we must prepare for a sustained increase in demand for Double Up through intensified fundraising. Based on the results of the last two reporting periods, we do not anticipate a return to pre-pandemic (lower) spending levels in the near term. We are looking into additional ways to modulate program spending (such as caps on spending, a lower cap on earning, and incentive expiration dates -- see below) so we can continue to efficiently and sustainably distribute nutrition incentives to the greatest number of program participants. Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives. Streamlining of the program and a commitment to reaching Double Up participants in areas of greatest need allowed us to again increase the percentage of the budget spent on nutrition incentives from 73 to more than 79 percent in this reporting period. Over the last year of the grant, it is our expectation that we will continue to adapt spending so that incentives account for 75 percent or more of the program budget, increase access and usage of the program to increase incentive spending, and reduce spending in non-incentive areas of the program by streamlining other program expenses and overhead costs. Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. Annual contracts require our independent grocery partners to purchase at least 20 percent of their total produce from Michigan growers in July-November, and to provide documentation of this sourcing. Double Up participating grocers reported that 15 percent of produce sold at their stores during the growing season was sourced locally. These purchases of fresh, local produce provided more than 11 million pounds of nutritious fruits and vegetables for Michigan families over the past year. In February 2021 we contracted with Michigan-based advocate and consulting organization Taste the Local Difference (TLD) to assist us in increasing local sourcing to Double Up retailers. TLD helps retailers manage the challenge of forming lasting business relationships with local farmers, distributors, and food hubs so they can continue to build on and expand their connections to the local food ecosystem. In 2021-22, TLD built relationships with produce wholesalers in Southeast Michigan and created a list of preferred wholesalers to assist Double Up sites in increasing their local produce percentage. Among these wholesalers are a local distributor at Detroit's Eastern Market and SpartanNash, a corporate chain that Taste the Local Difference has worked with to distinguish local produce for Double Up retailers. With each new Double Up site we add, we are increasing local produce sales by expanding Double Up into new farmers markets (which sell almost exclusively Michigan-grown produce) or grocery stores (where our grocery partners commit to purchasing from Michigan farmers). The more retailers and markets we bring into the Double Up program (see Goal 1), and the more families spend through Double Up at these sites (see Goal 2), the more local produce is purchased by stores and markets offering Double Up Food Bucks, and the stronger support the program provides to Michigan farmers.

Publications

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:Double Up Food Bucks helps to decrease hunger and increase access to healthy food for individuals and families who receive SNAP food assistance benefits. We obtain characteristics of the target audience by surveying individuals participating in Double Up Food Bucks at markets and grocery stores. Our most recent evaluation found that farmers market participants were primarily non-Hispanic White (63.5 percent) or Black (34.1 percent) and predominantly female (80.6 percent), with distribution across age groups. Grocery store participants were primarily Black (55.9 percent) or non?Hispanic White (31.8 percent) and predominantly female (85.4 percent), with distribution across age groups. In this year's sample, 31 percent of farmers market participants and 25 percent of grocery store participants reported having received SNAP benefits for 1-2 years; another 37 percent of farmers market participants and 43 percent of grocery store participants had been on SNAP for 2-5 years; and 21 percent of farmers market participants and 15 percent of grocery store participants reported having received SNAP benefits for more than 5 years. Changes/Problems:At the height of the pandemic, we made adjustments to the Double Up program to ensure that nutrition incentives reached the greatest number of SNAP recipients. As the pandemic and its attendant uncertainties lingered well into 2021, we faced a new set of challenges that caused us to make shifts in program implementation. Unprecedented program usage. As outlined above, incentive spending in the last year far exceeded our projections when developing the GusNIP proposal. We are very pleased to serve as a far-reaching resource for families struggling during the COVID crisis, and we have had to adjust our plans and adapt to the new spending reality. GusCRR was a critical infusion of resources to support our GusNIP footprint, and we will continue to focus on meeting demand in existing sites while also expanding to new areas in greatest need of Double Up support. Store and market closings. Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, we have learned that many of our retailers continue to struggle with staffing issues and concerns about keeping food and supplies on the shelf in addition to implementing Double Up with new and existing shoppers. With many stores and markets permanently closing or struggling with the urgency of the pandemic, we shifted our efforts from expanding to new counties to supporting the greatest number of program participants we could effectively reach during this emergency. Reinstatement of the daily earning cap and lower redemption rate at farmers markets. To maximize program access and benefits for Double Up participants, we lifted the daily earning cap early in the pandemic, allowing Double Up users unlimited daily earning and spending. (The previous limit was $20/day of matching Double Up Food Bucks.) In summer 2021, we reinstated the limit at farmers markets, at the request of markets, to balance the flow of Double Up tokens exchanged between vendors and program participants. Double Up users at farmers markets can now earn up to $50/day in Double Up Food Bucks. Grocery stores will continue to implement Double Up without the earning cap until it is reinstated in January 2022. With pandemic-induced increases in Double Up earning, we also discovered that the redemption rate at farmers markets -- that is, the rate of Double Up spent to Double Up earned -- was lower than we anticipated and had seen in years past. We attribute this to shoppers earning and holding onto physical tokens to use at a later date. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Opportunities for in-person training and professional development in 2021 have continued to be limited by coronavirus restrictions; nevertheless, we have attended online and some in-person events during the course of the reporting period: Participated on American Public Health Association (APHA) panel "Assessing the Effects of Nutrition Incentives on Local Agriculture, Food Insecurity, and Diet" Participated on panel addressing food security at Council of Michigan Foundations annual conference Engaged in national dialogue, "Toward A Just and Regenerative Food Policy For The United States," convened by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food Systems) Participated in Public and Private Scientific Advisory Committee on Food Systems at Harvard Business School and Kennedy School of Public Policy Presented at Michigan Good Food Summit with Michigan Good Food Fund partners exploring ways food and farm businesses are pivoting during the COVID-19 crisis and what additional support is needed Interviewed with April Baer for NPR/Michigan Radio's Stateside on Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic Presented at Rotary Charities of Traverse City Food Security Summit - What Values Drive Our Solutions? Presented at Nutrition Incentive Hub 2021 National Convening Welcome & Opening Plenary - The Past, Present, and Future of Nutrition Incentives Funders' Perspectives on Nutrition Incentives Presented at the Michigan League of Conservation Voters event Maintaining Food Access in the Face of Climate Change Participated in White House Community-Based Stakeholders Briefing on the President's Build Back Better agenda Engaged in 2021 USDA Community Nutrition Project Director's (PD) meeting Participated in the Connecting Food Movements: Pathways to Global Food Systems Transformation -- Global Alliance for the Future of Food Participated in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture annual meeting Presented as panelists for the Nutrition Incentives: Lessons and Opportunities to Improve Healthy Food Access webinar for Grantmakers in Health How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?FFN is always seeking opportunities to share our experiences, to exchange information with national practitioners, and to disseminate lessons learned. In leading technical assistance and training efforts for the GusNIP NTAE's Nutrition Incentive Hub, we work with a coalition of core partners, consultants, and advisors providing tools, elevating best practices, and fostering connections among practitioners. Throughout, Michigan's Double Up program continues to serve as a "proving ground": The stature, scale, and strength of the Michigan program provide us with the ideal environment to experiment with new approaches, build diverse partnerships, test innovative models, and develop technology solutions from which other programs are eager to learn. We share our annual report on Double Up Food Bucks on the Fair Food Network website, in addition to sharing it directly with established partners and sending it to subscribers via e-newsletter. The report illustrates the impact Double Up programs are having on community health and wealth nationwide, and includes detailed program statistics for 2020, as well as spotlights on specific geographies, reports on program and policy developments, and plans for future expansion of the Double Up program. Key media coverage that highlighted Double Up Food Bucks over the last year included the following: Critics say it's time to stop using the term "food deserts" // September 26, 2021. Governing Magazine. https://www.governing.com/community/critics-say-its-time-to-stop-using-the-term-food-deserts Fresh produce more accessible for low-income Michiganders. // September 24, 2021. Capital News Service, Spartan Newsroom. https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2021/09/fresh-produce-more-accessible-for-low-income-michiganders/ They create jobs, open farmers' markets, and make local food resilient, just, and equitable. Chances are, you've never heard of them. // September 1, 2021. The Counter. https://thecounter.org/local-food-systems-development-farmers-markets-jobs-impact/ Beyond 'food deserts': America needs a new approach to mapping food insecurity. // August 17, 2021. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/research/beyond-food-deserts-america-needs-a-new-approach-to-mapping-food-insecurity/ USDA invests $69 Million to support critical food and nutrition security needs. // August 17, 2021. USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. https://nifa.usda.gov/press-release/usda-invests-69-million-support-critical-food-and-nutrition-security-needs What is the difference between fruits and vegetables? // August 9, 2021. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fruits-vs-vegetables Farmers market: Local partners in the nutrition incentive field. // August 6, 2021. USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Blog. https://nifa.usda.gov/blog/farmers-markets-local-partners-nutrition-incentive-field Area farmers markets, health department celebrate resiliency. // August 4, 2021. The Petoskey News-Review. https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2021/08/04/national-farmers-market-week-marked-northern-michigan/5467196001/ How place governance impacts the civic potential of public places. // July 27, 2021. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/essay/how-place-governance-impacts-the-civic-potential-of-public-places/ Double Up continues to help Michigan farmers, families. // July 8, 2021. Michigan Farm News. https://www.michiganfarmnews.com/double-up-continues-to-help-michigan-farmers-families Addressing socioeconomic barriers to a healthy diet. // June 30, 2021. The Wellness Paradox Podcast. https://www.wellnessparadoxpod.com/podcast/episode/7 The food system is critical infrastructure. // May 27, 2021. NRDC Blog. https://www.nrdc.org/experts/amy-brown/food-system-critical-infrastructure Detroit community crowd-funds the only Black-owned grocery store in the city. // April 2, 2021. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/02/us/new-detroit-grocery-store/index.html Expanding healthy food incentives increases community wealth. // February 21, 2021. SPUR. https://www.spur.org/news/2021-02-21/expanding-healthy-food-incentives-increases-community-wealth Stateside: Travel ban reversed; MI's first absentee ballot fight; food insecurity solutions. // January 22, 2021. Michigan Radio. (Listen starting at 43:20) https://fairfoodnetwork.org/news/stateside-travel-ban-reversed-mis-first-absentee-ballot-fight-food-insecurity-solutions/ How the American Diet turbocharges COVID-19. // January 11, 2021. Mother Jones. https://fairfoodnetwork.org/news/how-the-american-diet-turbocharges-covid19/ Bridging the divide in dietetics. // December 8, 2020. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/nutrition-healthy-eating/bridging-the-divide-in-dietetics/ Flint fresh is challenging a food apartheid by delivering fresh produce to residents. // September 26, 2020. Foodtank. https://foodtank.com/news/2020/09/flint-fresh-is-challenging-a-food-apartheid-by-delivering-fresh-produce-to-residents/ In the next year, we will continue to rely on strategies similar to those shared above -- a large annual convening, smaller events, press outreach and conversations with reporters, and our annual report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In recent years, we have learned that we need to continuously ensure that Double Up is visible in communities and build a deep sense of connection with the program. To achieve the greatest impact throughout Michigan, we are focused on both broadening and deepening engagement by expanding to new sites and reaching more SNAP participants more frequently at existing locations, encouraging currently participating households to consistently use all available benefits. This strategy requires us to engage those who are new or newly returning to SNAP through strategic and community-based outreach. Our intensive marketing effort -- including direct mailers, social media, and geo-targeted digital advertising to connect with shoppers at participating locations as well as food access points in their communities -- will continue to reach families where they are spending their time (home) and food dollars (grocery stores, farmers markets). During the pandemic, it has also become more critical than ever to maintain contact with our community partners. By relying on our on-the-ground partners and robust evaluation systems, we were able to peg problems early and collaboratively strategize solutions. To keep our partners informed of program requirements and updates as they occur, we will continue distribution of our community partner newsletter, through which we provide program updates and introduce key staff to our partners. The successful securing of GusCRR funds in 2021 meant that Fair Food Network can revisit plans to conservatively expand the Double Up Michigan program footprint while still keeping pace with demand in existing sites. With this balance in mind, activities for the upcoming reporting period include: Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan Re-visit wait list of sites and reach out to schedule meetings. Request input from grocery and farmers market association partners. Review requirements with each potential site; prioritize sites in each target county. Deliver grocery store training program for grocery store owners, cashiers, and produce managers; deliver farmers market training program for market managers and vendors. Field suggestions and input for additional sites from participants, current sites, and partners. Maintain list of potential sites and conduct outreach and assessment of their fit. Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up Improve and expand Double Up Food Bucks loyalty card technology to make it easier for operators to administer the program and shoppers to earn and spend Double Up across participating locations. Move more participating sites to the Double Up card/app, shifting away from tokens at farmers markets and paper coupons at grocery stores. Develop new features to continue enhancing app functionality, usability, and connectivity with shoppers. Add locations offering Double Up Food Bucks to increase points of access for current and potential Double Up participants. Upon successful application, review/sign contract (MOU) with new sites. Upon FNS approval, conduct training then launch program and follow up on progress. Equip and train all project partners in direct contact with SNAP recipients to effectively recruit SNAP recipients to enroll in and use the program. Deploy Double Up branded materials at each site. Distribute fliers and materials to SNAP agencies and community organizations. Use social media, geocaching, direct mailing, and online ads. Engage directly with families at community and neighborhood events. Attend community events to promote the program and enroll SNAP recipients at participating outlets and via authorized community organizations (peaking in spring/summer) Train on-site staff at grocery stores who have a frontline role with shoppers to serve as high-touch Double Up champions. The goal of this cashier engagement initiative is to create a uniform understanding of the Double Up Food Bucks program and transform cashiers into program champions to enhance our participant engagement and enrich our customer service. Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives Measure and report on percentage of annual project budget spent on incentives versus other line items. Identify non-incentive spending that can be shifted to incentive spending and make appropriate change(s). Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables Add locations offering Double Up Food Bucks to increase opportunities for Michigan growers to sell their produce to participating Double Up stores and/or farmers markets. Upon successful application, review/sign contract (MOU) with new sites that commit to maintaining baseline of 20 percent local produce sales. Visit participating grocery stores to survey and interview produce managers and other store staff to assess local produce in stock and retailer needs. Provide grocery stores with suite of in-store marketing materials to promote program and feature local produce including price cards, window signs, etc. Collaborate with Taste the Local Difference to aid grocery stores in establishing and maintaining connections to local growers and producers. Our aim is to ensure Double Up is responsive to the needs of Michigan families by expanding access to the program and increasing Double Up usage to ensure its benefits are fully optimized. By moving beyond short-term fixes, we are getting at root causes of health inequities and creating systems-focused solutions that strengthen the self-sufficiency of residents, food providers, and the local economy. Diversified funding remains critical to accomplish these goals. Our vision since launching Double Up has been to leverage public funding sources for long-term sustainability. We have successfully built on private support to create a program that is attracting public funds, and best practices from Michigan have helped inspire the field nationally and grow public appropriations for Double Up and incentive programs more broadly. On August 17, USDA announced awards to nutrition incentive and produce prescription programs of $69 million, including $5 million to Fair Food Network. We also recently confirmed $2 million in funding for FY 2022 from the Michigan legislature, which renewed its commitment to Fair Food Network's statewide expansion of Double Up. It is this braiding of public and private funding that drives the sustainability of the Double Up program. While permanent public funding for Double Up supports long-term sustainability, philanthropic funding remains critical. Private and local philanthropic support help make the case for continued support to policymakers who are looking to leverage community investment in the program. In addition, flexible philanthropic dollars allow us to customize and innovate the program as we have done throughout this COVID-19 crisis.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Below we have included detailed Activities and Outcomes for each of our four main four-year goals. Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan Double Up continues to operate efficiently across the state, expanding to reach 69 of Michigan's 83 counties, an increase of two counties in this reporting period. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, and to the extent possible with the upsurge in demand at existing sites, we prioritized the recruitment of additional sites in counties with higher numbers of SNAP households and lower current program reach, implementing Double Up at 269 locations in Michigan (115 grocery stores and 154 farmers markets) -- a net gain of 16 sites in this reporting period. To reach more SNAP participants where they shop most frequently, we also launched Double Up in two new regional chain franchises (three Harding's grocery stores and three Town & Country stores), as well as a major grocery chain with the launch of a small format Meijer location, Rivertown Market, in Detroit on October 6, 2021. Our efforts to expand the breadth of the Double Up program have also included converting more neighborhood stores into points of access for fresh fruits and vegetables. Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up. From September 2020 through August 2021, our estimation shows that Double Up Michigan reached nearly 600,000 Michiganders -- fully half of the 1.2 million SNAP participants in the state. When we submitted the proposal in 2019, our estimated reach at the time was just 13% of households who used SNAP. Thus, we have already far exceeded our goal of doubling the percentage, reaching 50% of eligible households a full two years before the end of the grant. This progress seems due to several factors, including COVID-driven demand for affordable, healthy food and our own subsequent shifts in program strategies outlined below. In 2021, we offered families unlimited matching on the purchase of healthy, fresh produce, suspending the $20 daily cap on Double Up earning. Incentive earning and spending totaled $17,138,804 in combined SNAP and Double Up purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables. To increase the percentage of SNAP participants using Double Up and ensure that new and existing shoppers could readily access information about the program, we extended the capacity of the Double Up hotline and launched a new consumer-facing website for the statewide Double Up program. The site is available in English and Spanish and was designed to be accessible for all visitors. The website incorporates new videos explaining how the program works in grocery stores and farmers markets, with a refreshed locations page to help visitors find nearby participating locations. With many families using SNAP for the first time over the past year, we shifted our marketing strategy. In 2020, for the first time ever in program evaluation, a plurality (33 percent) of respondents cited social media as the primary way they learned about the program. FFN responded with a dynamic, multi-channel marketing campaign to build additional community awareness -- especially among the thousands of families newly participating in SNAP -- while growing and channeling consumer support for local produce. The growth of our social media outreach in this last reporting period is a testament to our effectiveness in reaching our target audience with instructions on how to enroll in the program, where to find Double Up locations, and other valuable and actionable information. The focus of our marketing efforts on a digital campaign increased Double Up's Facebook audience by 70 percent. Our geofencing campaign at food banks, community centers, and health clinics boosted program awareness in communities throughout the state, reaching 178,000 people. At the same time, Facebook and Google banner ads reached 417,000 and 422,000 Michiganders, respectively, and new promotional videos sharing stories about kids reaching their dreams with the help of fruits and veggies reached 30,000 people on Facebook and 104,000 on YouTube. We continued to promote our free, phone-based app, My Fresh Wallet, which allows shoppers to enroll in the program, check their balance, and find participating food retailers. To promote the My Fresh Wallet app, we created farmers market signs, grocery store posters, check out signs, and cue cards for cashiers, as well as ads on the new Double Up website and at participating Double Up locations. Since launch in April 2020, 3,328 SNAP participants have downloaded My Fresh Wallet, with more than 85 percent of those downloads occurring since the start of this reporting period on September 1, 2020. Double Up reached an estimated 599,088 individuals in Michigan over the past year -- approximately 50 percent of the 1.2 million Michiganders currently enrolled in SNAP. Considering the sharp increase in SNAP enrollment that occurred in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the above efforts to pivot the program speak to our capacity to meet growing demand for nutritious fruits and vegetables. Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives. Despite increased expenditures on non-incentive costs like technology, communications, outreach, and other COVID-related onboarding expenses, the percentage of the budget spent on nutrition incentives jumped from 52 percent to 73 percent in this reporting period. Because of the nature of the pandemic and uncertainty about future SNAP enrollment, we will continue to reserve funds for increased overhead costs for the duration of the COVID response; over the course of the remaining two years of the grant, however, it is still our expectation that we will: adapt spending so that incentives account for 75 percent of the program budget; increase access and usage of the program to increase incentive spending; and reduce spending in non-incentive areas of the program by streamlining other program expenses and overhead costs. Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. Annual contracts require our independent grocery partners to purchase at least 20 percent of their total produce from Michigan producers in July-November, and to provide documentation of this sourcing. Double Up participating grocers reported that 15 percent of produce sold at their stores during the growing season (July to October) was sourced locally. We learned from a survey of grocery store owners that they most needed help in establishing connections to local growers and producers. With that insight in mind, in February 2021 we contracted with Michigan-based advocate and consulting organization Taste the Local Difference (TLD) to assist us in increasing local sourcing to Double Up retailers. TLD helps retailers manage the challenge of forming lasting business relationships with local farmers, distributors, and food hubs so they can continue to build on and expand their connections to the local food ecosystem. As part of this work, we are identifying local farmers and food hubs/distributors that can regularly provide local produce to Michigan retailers. Ultimately, independent grocers in Michigan will increase their local sourcing by establishing business relationships with additional farmers, food hubs, and/or distributors. Additionally, with each new Double Up site we add, we are increasing local produce sales by expanding Double Up into new farmers markets (which sell almost exclusively Michigan-grown produce) or grocery stores (where our grocery partners commit to purchasing from Michigan farmers). The more retailers and markets we bring into the Double Up program (see Goal 1), and the more families spend through Double Up at these sites (see Goal 2), the more local produce is purchased by stores and markets offering Double Up Food Bucks, and the stronger support the program provides to Michigan farmers.

Publications

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Double Up Food Bucks helps to decrease hunger and increase access to healthy food for individuals and families who receive SNAP food assistance benefits. We obtain characteristics of the target audience by surveying individuals participating in Double Up Food Bucks at markets and grocery stores. Our most recent evaluation found that farmers market participants were primarily non-Hispanic White (63.5 percent) or Black (34.1 percent) and predominantly female (80.6 percent), with distribution across age groups. Grocery store participants were primarily Black (55.9 percent) or non?Hispanic White (31.8 percent) and predominantly female (85.4 percent), with distribution across age groups. In this year's sample, 31 percent of farmers market participants and 25 percent of grocery store participants reported having received SNAP benefits for 1-2 years; another 37 percent of farmers market participants and 43 percent of grocery store participants had been on SNAP for 2-5 years; and 21 percent of farmers market participants and 15 percent of grocery store participants reported having received SNAP benefits for more than 5 years. Changes/Problems:COVID-19: Over the last course of 2020, COVID-19 has dramatically increased the number of families experiencing food insecurity. While the increase in SNAP eligibility helps meet this need, purchasing healthy food is still out of reach for too many families. As coronavirus penetrates more deeply into our communities, Double Up is even more critical -- boosting families' limited food dollars,bringing healthy food within reach, supporting local farmers,and stimulating our economy during an economic downturn. In response to COVID-19, we have rapidly pivoted to reach Michigan families newly eligible for SNAP (and now Pandemic EBT), while also meeting increased needs of current recipients. However, the COVID crisis hit in February 2020, and the corresponding economic downturn has led to job loss and income reduction for many Michiganders, resulting in increased reliance on resources like SNAP to make ends meet. Between February and April 2020, Michigan saw a 30 percent increase in the number of families participating in the SNAP program, as well as an increase in benefits and Pandemic EBT funds distributed. Our Response: Despite the unforeseen and unprecedented COVID-19 health and economic crisis, Double Up continues to operate efficiently throughout Michigan. To support Michigan families in stretching their food dollars and accessing more healthy fruits and vegetables, we made several key enhancements to our program that will increase healthy food incentives for families and broaden access during this crisis and beyond. By eliminating the earnings cap on Double Up dollars, initiating an intensive communications and marketing effort to connect with SNAP shoppers, fast-tracking the development of the Double Up smartphone app, and deepening and broadening the program's reach through the introduction of new Double Up sites, we were able to meet rapidly rising demand for nutrition incentives. Each of these actions contributed to greater program usage, as evidenced by the average 29.5 percent increase from month to month in Double Up spending across Michigan from February to June 2020. Double Up spending peaked in July 2020 at $556,431 -- nearly three times spending in February, when the pandemic began. In a single Saturday in mid-May, Detroit's Eastern Market shoppers redeemed $4,000 in Double Up Food Bucks tokens -- nearly doubling the total spent throughout the entire month of May in 2019. With the support of the USDA GusNIP program, we were able to meet this increased demand, enabling tens of thousands of Michigan families to access fresh, healthy produce and stretch their food dollars at a time when they were needed most. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Opportunities for training and professional development in 2020 have been limited by coronavirus restrictions; nevertheless, we have attended online and some in-person events during the course of the reporting period: Attended the Nutrition Incentive National Convening for Double Up practitioners in 2020. Attended the FINI Project Directors meeting in Washington, D.C. in May 2019. Attended 2019 Food Access Year-End Meetings in Brimley and Midland in November 2019, hosted by Michigan Farmers Market Association. Provided updates on Double Up Food Bucks. Attended and hosted a table at the Michigan Family Farms Conference in 2019 and 2020. Attended the Washtenaw County Local Food Summit in 2019 in Ypsilanti. Presented at the Urban Food Systems Symposium in October 2020. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We are always seeking opportunities to share our experiences, to exchange information with national practitioners, and to disseminate lessons learned. In 2019, following a successful co-application with the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Fair Food Network was honored that our joint proposal received the sole NTAE award under GusNIP. This designation will allow us to leverage our experience in Michigan to maximize the impact and efficiency of nutrition incentive projects nationwide. In leading technical assistance and training efforts for the NTAE , we work with a coalition of core partners, consultants, and advisors providing tools, elevating best practices, and fostering connections among practitioners. Throughout, Michigan's Double Up program continues to serve as a "proving ground" -- the stature, scale, and strength of the Michigan program provide us with the ideal environment to experiment with new approaches, build diverse partnerships, test innovative models, and develop technology solutions from which other programs are eager to learn. Our experience in Michigan has allowed us to support work in nearly every state, working with local partners to grow incentives nationally. In 2019, we published our first ever annual report on Double Up Food Bucks, and have shared it directly with established partners, sent it to subscribers via e-newsletter, and now host it on the Fair Food Network website. The report illustrates the impact Double Up programs are having on community health and wealth nationwide, and includes detailed program statistics for 2019, as well as spotlights on specific geographies, reports on program and policy developments, and plans for future expansion of the Double Up program. Media sources in which the Double Up program was prominently featured in 2020 include: Governor Whitmer signs executive order creating Food Security Council. // August 7, 2020. NBC 25 Mid-Michigan Now. https://nbc25news.com/news/local/governor-whitmer-signs-executive-order-creating-food-security-council Partners expand Double Up Food Bucks program. // July 17, 2020. Grand Rapids Business Journal. https://grbj.com/news/food-service-agriculture/partners-expand-double-up-food-bucks-program/ SpartanNash doubles down on Double Up Food Bucks. // July 16, 2020. Supermarket News. https://www.supermarketnews.com/health-wellness/spartannash-doubles-down-double-food-bucks A push to support 'Double Up Food Bucks' in next round of aid. // July 10, 2020. Politico. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-agriculture/2020/07/10/a-push-to-support-double-up-food-bucks-in-next-round-of-aid-789085 While food supply chains snap, a solution is on the table. // May 20, 2020. The Hill's Changing America. https://thehill.com/changing-america/opinion/498727-while-food-supply-chains-snap-a-solution-is-on-the-table Farmers markets provide healthy food and support local economies. Keep them open during Covid-19 lockdowns. // April 18, 2020. STAT+. https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/18/modify-farmers-markets-but-keep-them-open-covid-19-lockdowns/ What more states allowing SNAP recipients to buy food online means for food security // April 14, 2020. Civil Eats. https://civileats.com/2020/04/13/what-more-states-allowing-snap-recipients-to-buy-food-online-means-for-food-security/ Farmers markets are vital during COVID-19, but they need more support. // April 8, 2020. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2020/04/08/farmers-markets-are-vital-during-covid-19-but-they-need-more-support/ Double Up Food Bucks: Helping provide healthy fruits, vegetables, one county at a time // February 21, 2020. Michigan Farm News. https://www.michiganfarmnews.com/double-up-food-bucks-helping-provide-healthy-fruits-vegetables-one-county-at-a-time?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Farm+News As nutrition incentives for SNAP recipients expand, will local farmers still benefit? // January 6, 2020. FoodPrint. https://foodprint.org/blog/as-nutrition-incentives-for-snap-recipients-expand-will-local-farmers-still-benefit/ Evaluating a USDA program that gives SNAP participants financial incentives to buy fresh produce in supermarkets // November 2019. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00431 Stateside: Why the DNR okayed wolf killings; citizen activists on PEAS; expanding food assistance // November 25, 2019. Michigan Radio. https://www.michiganradio.org/post/stateside-why-dnr-okayed-wolf-killings-citizen-activists-pfas-expanding-food-assistance Price incentives boost SNAP produce purchases // Nov. 7, 2019. Politico. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-agriculture/2019/11/07/price-incentives-boost-snap-produce-purchases-782139 USDA selects groups to help boost produce consumption // Nov. 6, 2019. The Packer. https://www.thepacker.com/article/usda-selects-groups-help-boost-produce-consumption Flint fights lead poisoning with farmers markets and cooking classes. // October 21, 2019. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/flint-fights-lead-poisoning-with-farmers-markets-and-cooking-classes In the next year, we will continue to rely on the similar strategies shared above - a large annual convening, smaller events, press outreach and conversations with reporters, and by publishing an annual report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In recent years, we have learned that we need to continuously ensure that Double Up is visible in communities and build a deep sense of connection with the program. To achieve the greatest impact throughout Michigan, we are focused on both broadening and deepening engagement by expanding to new sites and reaching more SNAP participants more frequently at existing locations. In this moment, SNAP participation is growing rapidly, and we have pivoted the program to respond to changing needs. These shifts require us to engage those who are new or newly returning to SNAP through strategic and community-based outreach when permissible. Our intensive marketing effort -- including direct mailers, social media, and geo-targeted digital advertising to connect with shoppers at participating locations as well as food access points in their communities -- will continue to reach families where they are spending their time (home) and food dollars (grocery stores, farmers markets). We also need to encourage currently participating households to consistently use all available benefits. This type of engagement requires thoughtful outreach strategies and means that we will be moving beyond simply measuring the number of people served to include measures of frequency of program use as indicators of success. Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan Re-visit wait list of sites and reach out to schedule meetings. Request input from grocery and farmers market association partners. Review requirements with each potential site, prioritize sites in each target county. Field suggestions and input for additional sites from participants, current sites, and partners. Maintain list of potential sites and conduct outreach and assessment of their fit. Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up Improve and expand Double Up Food Bucks loyalty card technology to increase the ease and efficacy of program use. Work with vendor(s) to enhance existing technology and expand use to new sites, especially integrating seamlessly into grocery POS systems. Add locations offering Double Up Food Bucks to increase points of access for current and potential Double Up participants. Upon successful application, review/sign contract (MOU) with new sites. Upon FNS approval, conduct training then launch program and follow up on progress. Deploy Double Up branded materials at each site. Distribute fliers and materials to SNAP agencies and community organizations. Use social media, geocaching, direct mailing and online ads. Engage directly with families at community and neighborhood events. Develop and implement measure to track frequency of program usage. Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives Measure and report on percentage of annual project budget spent on incentives versus other line items. Identify non-incentive spending that can be shifted to incentive spending and make appropriate change(s). Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables Add locations offering Double Up Food Bucks to increase opportunities for Michigan growers to sell their produce to participating Double Up stores and/or farmers markets. Upon successful application, review/sign contract (MOU) with new sites that commit to maintaining baseline of 20 percent local produce sales. Double Up will continue as long as there is a need for families and children to access more healthy food. Our aim is to move beyond short-term fixes by getting at root causes of health inequities and creating systems-focused solutions that strengthen the self-sufficiency of residents, food providers, and the local economy. Diversified funding remains critical to accomplish these goals. Our vision since launching Double Up has been to leverage public funding sources for long-term sustainability. We have successfully built on private support to create a program that is attracting public funds, and best practices from Michigan have helped inspire the field nationally and grow public appropriations for Double Up and incentive programs more broadly. The 2018 federal farm bill more than doubled the allocation for the USDA's nutrition incentives grant program, making the program a permanent part of future farm bills. Our recent efforts in Michigan resulted in $2 million in the FY 2019 Supplemental Budget, and an additional $1 million in the FY 2020 budget. As the State faces a challenging budget situation, it remains critical for Fair Food Network to continue to communicate the importance of continued state funding in order to ensure the program is able to scale statewide and continue to meet increased need during this critical time. We are also in a serious conversation with MDHHS (the agency for both SNAP and Medicaid in the State of Michigan) about a research project that connects Double Up usage with healthcare trends and expenses. The purpose of this study is to establish a connection between increased nutrition incentive use and improved health outcomes, which will open the door to sustainable funding in the future from a Pay for Success (Social Impact Bond) model that engages both private investor capital and State/Federal health care funding. It is this braiding of public and private funding that drives the sustainability of the Double Up program. While permanent public funding for Double Up supports long-term sustainability, philanthropic funding remains critical. Private and local philanthropic support help make the case for continued support to policymakers who are looking to leverage community investment in the program. In addition, flexible philanthropic dollars allow us to customize and innovate the program as we have done throughout this COVID-19 crisis.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Activities & Outcomes for Goal 1: Expand Double Up to all counties in Michigan Despite the unforeseen and unprecedented COVID-19 health crisis, Double Up continues to operate efficiently across the state, expanding to reach 67 of Michigan's 83 counties, an increase of five counties in this reporting period and on pace with our four-year goal. In this reporting period, Fair Food Network implemented Double Up at 253 locations in Michigan (98 grocery stores and 155 farmers markets -- adding 11 new sites), resulting in more than 1 million earning and spending transactions by SNAP shoppers and totaling more than $10 million in combined SNAP and incentive sales on fresh fruits and vegetables. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we prioritized the recruitment of additional sites in counties with higher numbers of SNAP households and lower current program reach, adding one new farmers market and three new grocery stores in the Detroit Metro area. To reach more SNAP participants where they shop most frequently, we also launched Double Up in two new regional chain franchises -- three Harding's grocery stores and three Town & Country stores. Our efforts to expand the Double Up program have also included converting more neighborhood stores into points of access for fresh fruits and vegetables. In fall 2019, through the Michigan Good Food Fund, we designed a new training program to help neighborhood stores increase their healthy food inventory in a profitable way. Seven Detroit-based stores were selected from across the city to receive intensive training and one-on-one targeted assistance. In this time of crisis, these stores are beginning the conversion to supply residents in the surrounding area easier access to healthy food. Activities & Outcomes for Goal 2: More than double percentage of SNAP households using Double Up As COVID-19 began to impact Michigan communities, we eliminated the $20 daily cap on Double Up earning, offering families unlimited matching on the purchase of healthy, fresh produce at a time when it was needed most. We also pivoted our marketing efforts to reach more SNAP households and encourage Double Up program use. We recalibrated our marketing mix in early March through August to meet shoppers at their homes, on their smartphones, and at grocery stores or farmers markets in their community. Using an integrated marketing approach, digital marketing tactics were paired with radio advertisements and direct mail pieces sent to homes in high-density SNAP areas in Michigan to increase program exposure. Marketing campaign messages focused on sharing essential program information with SNAP recipients, including what Double Up is, how it works, and where to find participating locations. As the pandemic endures, Fair Food Network continues to see heightened website traffic, reach, and click-through rates for Double Up's e-newsletters, geofencing ads, Google ads, and Facebook ads. In April alone, traffic to Double Up's website attracted 86,000 unique visitors -- a 3,500 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019. The Double Up Facebook page also reached nearly 1 million Michiganders in April. During this time, Double Up continues to survey website visitors to gain further insight into how people are learning about the program. Our findings affirm that marketing outreach during COVID-19 was able to grow program awareness by reaching both new and established SNAP recipients. In addition to direct promotion of the program, the planned Double Up smartphone app rollout began in April and will continue through 2020. This innovation provides increased accessibility and has helped to promote Double Up usage. Shoppers with smartphones can now download this free app to enroll in the program, check their balance, and find participating food retailers. At locations that support the Double Up loyalty card, shoppers can use the app to earn and spend Double Up credits digitally -- allowing the usage of Double Up Food Bucks across participating sites. Incentives programs currently cannot precisely "count" each individual participant due to the widespread use of tokens and coupons. Our intensified efforts in response to the COVID-19 crisis contributed to greater program usage, as evidenced by steadily rising Double Up spending from February through August. This measure of incentive dollars spent, rather than individuals served, provides a reasonable but imperfect picture of our program reach. By this measure, and while Double Up spending increased in 2020 compared to 2019, the sharp and steady increase in SNAP participation due to COVID-19 slightly lowered our estimated percent of total SNAP households reached. That we saw a slight decrease (1.28 percent) in the percentage of SNAP households served despite much larger increases in incentive spending speaks to the sudden and rapid increase in families needing food assistance and our prodigious efforts to pivot the program, including intensified marketing, fast-tracked rollout of the user app, raising of the daily spending limit, and expansion to new sites. Activities & Outcomes for Goal 3: Increase proportion of project budget dedicated to incentives Our response to the COVID crisis required intense programmatic focus on meeting the unprecedented -- and entirely unexpected -- demand for nutrition incentives, requiring expenditures greater than anticipated on non-incentive costs like communications, outreach, and technology. To meet the unanticipated demand created by Michigan shoppers new to the SNAP and Double Up programs, we allocated more non-incentive funds to meet COVID-related onboarding expenses. As a result, we saw a rise in non-incentive costs. Because of the nature of the pandemic and uncertainty about future SNAP enrollment, we will continue to reserve funds for increased overhead costs for the duration of the COVID response. Over the course of the remaining three years of the grant it is still our expectation that we will adapt spending so that incentives account for 75 percent of the program budget, increase access and usage of the program to increase incentive spending, and reduce spending in non-incentive areas of the program by streamlining other program expenses and overhead costs. Activities & Outcomes for Goal 4: Increase demand for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables In response to input from SNAP shoppers and grocery store owners wishing to increase access to fresh produce, Double Up now runs year-round and SNAP customers can earn and spend Double Up on any fruits and vegetables. We shifted the onus of local produce purchasing to the retailers, requiring grocers to commit to purchasing a minimum amount of local produce during the peak growing season in Michigan. Annual contracts require our independent grocery partners to purchase at least 20% of their total produce from Michigan producers in July-November, and to provide documentation of this sourcing. This modification of our strategy has strengthened our support of Michigan farmers. With each new Double Up site we add (see Goal 1), we are increasing local produce sales by expanding Double Up into new farmers markets (which sell almost exclusively Michigan-grown produce) or grocery stores (where our grocery partners commit to purchasing Michigan farmers). Ultimately, the more retailers and markets we bring into the Double Up program, and the more families use Double Up in these sites, the more local produce is purchased by stores and markets offering Double Up Food Bucks. And with the lifting of the $20 cap on incentive spending in response to the COVID-19 crisis, SNAP participants continue to earn a Double Up dollar for each dollar they spend on fresh produce -- benefiting themselves and their families with nutritious foods while taking advantage of unlimited matching dollars to support Michigan farmers and local agriculture.

Publications