Iowa Double Up Food Bucks Grocery Application

The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative is accepting applications from Iowa owned and operated grocery stores on a rolling basis. If interested in participating in Double Up Food Bucks please complete the application form below.

WHAT IS DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS? Double Up Food Bucks allows SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) customers to match purchases of qualifying fruits and vegetables made with their EBT card (up to $10 per day) with Double Up Food Bucks which can be spent on additional qualifying fruits and vegetables

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFYING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES? The definition of qualifying fruits and vegetables includes any variety of fresh whole or cut fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e. 17 sodium). SNAP eligible seeds and plants intended for cultivation and consumption (e.g., tomato seeds or tomato plants) and fresh herbs (e.g., fresh basil, thyme, or mint) are also considered qualifying fruits and vegetables.

HOW DOES THE CUSTOMER EARN DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS? The customer will earn Double Up in the form of a $1 paper Double Up Food Buck when they purchase qualifying fresh fruits and vegetables (see above) and pay using their SNAP benefits.

HOW DOES THE CUSTOMER REDEEM DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS? The customer can redeem their Double Up Food Bucks on a future purchase (EBT, cash, credit card, etc.) of qualifying fresh fruits and vegetables (see above).

To Qualify, store must:

Be an independently operated, full-service grocery store operating in Iowa
Be able to accept SNAP EBT benefits
Have a SNAP permit number from the USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)
Must complete and submit appropriate Double Up Food Bucks application and include required SNAP data
Must be able to complete all program requirements including documentation, reporting requirements, and evaluation requests
Must be able to implement use of the Double Up Food Bucks script upon activation of site
Must complete required Double Up Food Bucks training
Must sign and submit Double Up Food Bucks contract and W9
Must support promotion of the Double Up Food Bucks with shoppers
Must be able to rapidly implement and launch DUFB program by July 15, 2020.

If selected, Iowa Healthiest State will provide:

Program training in-person and/or webinar format
Templates and tools for record-keeping and required program reporting
An operations manual and technical assistance throughout the season
Funds to support the DUFB currency redeemed at your store location

Healthiest State Initiative expects that your grocery store will:

Attend required training session
Offer and distribute DUFB to SNAP customers at the point of sale during the DUFB program
Provide the Healthiest State with third-party verification of SNAP sales during the DUFB program
Promote DUFB and SNAP program at your grocery store and in the local community
Complete all DUFB reporting requirements
Participate in DUFB program evaluation methods
Ensure adequate capacity to operate the program and cover any associated administrative costs
Communicate to customers at the point of sale about the DUFB program and promote the program and SNAP at your grocery store and through community channels

All fields marked with * are required.

Store Information

Store Name *

Primary Contact Person *

Title *

Email *

Phone *

Secondary Contact Person

Title

Phone

Brief history of store (when it opened, recent changes in ownership/management, past uses/ownership of premises, any recent investments or renovations?) *

Is your store affiliated with a national corporation? If so, what chain, and what services do you get from the national corporation (for example, point of sale software or store-brand products)? *

Approximately what percent of your overall sales are from SNAP EBT benefits? *

What were your stores total SNAP EBT sales between June 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020? *

What were your stores total SNAP EBT sales on FRESH PRODUCE between June 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020? *

****Fresh produce is defined as any variety of fresh whole or cut fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e. 17 sodium). SNAP eligible seeds and plants intended for cultivation and consumption (e.g., tomato seeds or tomato plants) and fresh herbs (e.g., fresh basil, thyme, or mint) are also considered qualifying fruits and vegetables.

Technical Questions

Name and title of staff person who is most knowledgeable about your register and inventory system

What is the make and model of you Register/POS system? (example: NCR ScanMaster 7.2.5)

Can the POS system identify fresh produce and itemize the fresh produce sub-total separately from other grocery items if purchased? If yes, please explain. *

Can the POS system calculate the amount of SNAP EBT spent on fresh produce items? If yes, please explain. *

Can the POS system apply a discount exclusively toward eligible produce items? If yes, please explain. *

Produce Procurement Questions

Name and title of staff person who is most knowledgeable about your produce procurement:

What suppliers do you currently use to purchase produce?

Do you currently source locally grown produce items? *

What percentage of your total produce sales come from local producers? **Local is defined as being grown and harvested within 250 miles from point of purchase *

Are you willing to commit to sourcing at least 1% of your total produce items from local producers during the Iowa growing season, May 1 - October 31? *

Are you willing to provide local procurement reporting to the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative on a monthly basis? *

Customer Relations Questions

What existing programs do you have for your customers? Examples: loyalty programs, health promotion programs, sponsorships, community events

Are you willing to have Iowa Healthiest State Initiative volunteers, nutrition educators, and evaluation team spend time in your store? *

Are you willing to commit at least 3 hours weekly of management staff time between now and December 31, 2020 to plan for and ensure smooth operation of the program? *

Please call or email with questions:

Aryn McLaren

Double Up Food Bucks Program Coordinator

Iowa Healthiest State Initiative

301 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309

email: aryn@iowahealthieststate.com

phone: 303-669-2254

Partnerships

Double Up Food Bucks would not exist — much less be such a success — without the support of our partners.

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Double Up Food Bucks Local Produce Procurement

Double Up Food Bucks Local Produce Procurement Reporting

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Double Up Locations

Find a Double Up Food Bucks location - available at grocery stores and farmers markets - near you.

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