Double Up Food Bucks Farmers
Market Application
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative Double Up Food Bucks Farmers Market Grant Application
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative will accept applications from farmers markets, farm stands and/or CSA’s who currently do not have the incentive program or Double Up Food Bucks, in operation. Through an application process, the selected locations will receive technical assistance and financial support from the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative to increase the market’s sales of fresh fruits and vegetables through the following tactics; implementation of the Double Up Food Bucks program, increasing capacity of the market through a $1500 grant, implementation and sustainability planning for the market and incentive program, and digital marketing support and strategies to engage new customers that may be interested in purchasing specialty crops at the farmers market or farm stand locations.
Project Objectives
30 total farmers markets, farm stands, or CSA’s will be selected by the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative during the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 with priority given to farms/markets located in food deserts or rural locations.
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative will support participating locations with outreach, promotion and partnership building to help engage new shoppers, vendors, and stakeholders for specialty crop purchasing.
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative will provide technical assistance and support to participating locations to implement a fruit and vegetable incentive program to increase specialty crop purchasing
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative will help guide sustainability planning of participating sites through the cultivation of strategic partnerships that can provide long-term support of the market beyond the grant funding cycle.
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative will provide selected locations with up to $1500 of funding to support capacity building efforts
Eligibility:
Farmers markets, farm stands and/or CSA’s. Farmers markets MUST be centralized and able to reimburse vendors through a centralized process.
Does not currently participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program
Currently accepts SNAP EBT payments or will begin accepting SNAP EBT payments during the period of the grant
If selected, Iowa Healthiest State will provide:
All necessary program materials for implementation of Double Up Food Bucks at your farmers market (DUFB script, flyers and posters advertising the program for distribution in your community, and signs for participating vendors)
Required in-person and/or webinar format trainings
Templates and tools for record-keeping and required program reporting
Technical assistance throughout the season
Funds to help support capacity building at your market for the 12-month grant period
The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative expects that your farmers market will:
Attend required training sessions
Implement SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) EBT POS and programming (if not already implemented) and adhere to SNAP regulations and policy.
Grant funding cannot be used to implement or sustain SNAP programming and/or equipment
Ensure adequate capacity to operate the program and cover any associated administrative costs following the termination of the grant cycle
Implement Double Up Food Bucks incentive program, distributing and redeeming DUFB to customers at the point of sale through digital incentive program, Fresh Incentives
Provide HSI with third-party verification of SNAP sales at the farmers market during the program season
Promote fruit and vegetable incentive program at your farmers market and in the local community
Complete all grant reporting requirements
Participate in all grant evaluation and data collection methods
APPLICATION FORM:
Please email with questions:
Jazzmine Brooks
Double Up Food Bucks Program Coordinator
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative
301 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309
email: jazzmine@iowahealthieststate.com