Missouri’s recently approved state budget has cut $2 million in funding for the Double Up Food Bucks program, which assists Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in buying fresh produce.
The funding reduction follows recent advocacy by state leaders for restrictions on purchasing sugary foods through public assistance programs, aimed at promoting healthier eating.
Donna Martin, director of Double Up Food Bucks in Missouri and Kansas, stated that the loss of state funding will primarily impact the program’s expansion into new communities. “Basically, it will just limit our ability to expand to other communities that are not currently being served,” Martin said.
Proponents of the budget cut argue that Missouri is confronting a challenging financial situation and that state spending must be carefully prioritized. They believe newer initiatives like Double Up Food Bucks should be assessed amidst constrained revenues.
Despite the funding loss, the program is expected to operate in the near term until existing financial resources are exhausted. Martin noted that the program allows SNAP participants to double their purchasing power for fresh produce at participating stores and farmers’ markets, a resource that has grown more important as food prices rise. “The price of fruit and vegetables have increased 40% to 50% in just the last couple months,” she added.
The program is currently sustained by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, Martin expressed concern that the lack of state support could inhibit efforts to reach more communities, especially rural areas where participating retailers are scarce. “I get calls from folks that are pretty far away from our closest location that offers Double Up Food Bucks… and it’s sad to me to be able to tell them that they can’t utilize the program,” she said.
Program officials warn that the funding cut may slow access expansion, leaving some rural residents without convenient options for benefiting from the healthy food incentive.
Source: www.kttn.com via Google News.
