Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to provide a descriptive case study of a dollar-for-dollar match program at farmers’ markets for families using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Specifically, the study sought to examine characteristics (e.g., demographics, household food security), needs, and benefits of families using the match program. It also sought to examine recommendations from families in order to improve the match program. Participants included 143 parents and caregivers of children from ages 5–10, who received services through the weekly match program at markets designed for individuals receiving SNAP benefits. While shopping at farmers’ markets, parents completed questionnaires regarding several domains including service usage, shopping habits, food consumption patterns, and household food security. Parents reported that they strongly agreed that fruits and vegetables were important to their health. However, only 35.9% of parents indicated that they strongly agreed that they could afford to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Overall, parents reported a positive impact of service use and appeared to value fresh fruits and vegetables. Implications for policy development as well as recommendations for future studies focusing on health promotion in children and families are discussed.
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Copies of the survey are available upon request from the first author.
Author Contributions
C.M.A.: Designed and executed the study, conducted analysis, and wrote the manuscript. M.C.R.: Designed the study and edited the manuscript.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Amaro, C.M., Roberts, M.C. An Evaluation of a Dollar-for-Dollar Match Program at Farmers’ Markets for Families Using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits. J Child Fam Stud 26, 2790–2796 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0779-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0779-4