Iowa Double Up Food Bucks 2020 Farmers Market Application

The Healthiest State Initiative is pleased to announce that the Double Up Food Bucks program received funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This funding was made possible through the leadership of Gov. Kim Reynolds in consultation with the Feeding Iowans Task Force, led by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, to expand access to nutritious food for Iowans in need during this unprecedented time.

The Healthiest State Initiative is accepting applications from Iowa farmers markets through June 21, 2020 for participation in the Double Up Food Bucks program between July 1 – December 31, 2020. Because this is emergency relief funding, the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative cannot guarantee continued participation in the Double Up Food Bucks program after December 31, 2020.

Double Up Food Bucks allows SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) customers to match purchases of fresh produce made with their EBT card (up to $10 per day) with Double Up Food Bucks which can be spent on additional fruits and vegetables.

All fields marked with * are required.

Program Requirements

To qualify, farmers markets must:

Be able to accept SNAP benefits (minimum of one season of experience is preferred, but not required)
Have a SNAP permit number from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
Have a point of sale device and SNAP currency
Demonstrate sufficient organizational capacity to handle the associated accounting and reporting
Have written support to participate in the program from their governing and/or fiscal organization (if different from the market operations organization)

DUFB Participation - How it Works

If selected, Iowa Healthiest State will provide:

All necessary program materials for implementation 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 to HSI
An operations manual and technical assistance throughout the season
Funds to help support the DUFB match at your market for the program season

Healthiest State Initiative expects that your farmers market will:

Attend required training session
Offer and distribute DUFB to SNAP customers at the point of sale during the DUFB program season
Provide HSI with third-party verification of SNAP sales at the farmers market during the program season
Promote DUFB and SNAP program at your farmers market and in the local community
Complete all DUFB reporting requirements
Participate in all program evaluation methods
Ensure adequate capacity to operate the program and cover any associated administrative costs
Communicate to both participating and non-participating vendors at the market about the DUFB program and promote the program and SNAP at your framers market through community channels

Farmers Market Information

What farmers market are you applying on behalf of? *

What organization is responsible for day-to-day operations of the farmers market - including distribution of SNAP currency to customers and collection and reimbursement of SNAP from participating vendors (if applicable)? *

In what year did the farmers market first operate?

Location of farmers market (address, city, county):

Describe farmers market hours of operation (day(s), time(s), and season open and close dates):

Website or Facebook (if applicable):

Organization Information

What organization would be fiscally responsible for implementing Double Up Food Bucks? *

What is the tax status of the fiscally responsible organization? *

If other, explain:

Contact information for the fiscally responsible organization:

Organizational representative: *

Mailing address: *

Phone number: *

Email address: *

Contact information for the organization responsible for day-to-day market operations (if different than the fiscally responsible organization listed above):

Organizational representative:

Mailing address:

Phone number:

Email address:

Farmers Market Indicators

Please complete the following indicators for the 2018 season:

Estimate of average weekly customer attendance:

Number of produce vendors:

Total number of vendors:

SNAP EBT Card Sales ($):

Credit/Debit Sales (if applicable):

WIC FMNP Sales ($)

Senior FMNP Sales ($)

Other coupons, programs or incentives ($). Briefly explain:

Who is responsible for SNAP EBT Card acceptance at your farmers market? Is this person paid or volunteer?

Does your farmers' market allow vendors to sell fruits and vegetables not grown in Iowa? If yes, are there policies or procedures in place to verify the point-of-origin for produce? Please describe. If yes, do you require labeling of non-locally grown produce?

SNAP Operations

In what month and year did your farmer's market first accept SNAP EBT cards?

What challenges have you encountered with accepting SNAP EBT cards at your farmers market? Or, if your market has not accepted SNAP EBT cards in past seasons, please explain your plans to implement.

Does the same organization that manages the market also operate the SNAP EBT card program? If not, please explain the relationship between the organizations involved in market management and SNAP operations.

What is your SNAP currency (scrip, tokens, etc.)?

Please describe your SNAP point-of-sale device. What type of device is it? Where is it located in proximity to your market?

Describe your bookkeeping procedures for vendor reimbursement of SNAP sales. What is your frequency of reimbursement (e.g. weekly, monthly)? What types of documentation do you have in place (e.g. receipt of token exchange)? Describe the mechanism and process for transferring funds to vendors for SNAP sales (e.g. cash, check, direct deposit).

Community Partners and Funding

Does your farmers market plan to offer educational or other community programming in the 2019 season, either independently or in partnership with other organization?

In the last 3 years, have you received any grant funding to support your market or food assistance programs at your market? If you have foundation or other charitable support, please list current sources or pending proposals.

Do you have established relationships with any community foundations that might be able to support DUFB in your area? Please list foundation and describe your relationship.

List any key financial partners that have been or will be asked to support the DUFB program in your area.

Attachments

As part of your application, please submit the following attachments:

Either 1) proof of nonprofit status from the IRS or 2) a completed W-9 form available at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf for all other types of organizations.

Market policies, rules, and regulations

Records of SNAP sales for previous season in the format you use for your bookkeeping (f applicable)

OPTIONAL: Photos of your farmers market, promotional materials, etc. Please be selective.

Please call or email with questions:

Aryn McLaren, Double Up Food Bucks Coordinator

Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, 301 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309

Email: aryn@iowahealthieststate.com

Phone: 303-669-2254

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