Roanoke Co+op now offers more incentives to SNAP/EBT shoppers by doubling their SNAP dollars spent on fresh produce. The benefits are made available to every SNAP shopper at the co-op through a recent partnership with the Virginia Fresh Match network. In August 2018, Roanoke’s own Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP), on behalf of the statewide Virginia Fresh Match network, received a $1.8 million Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) incentives throughout the Commonwealth.
Virginia Fresh Match doubles the value of SNAP benefits spent at participating farmers markets and retail grocery stores. For example, a SNAP shopper purchases $20 in fresh fruits and vegetables and pays only $10.
The 3-year federal FINI grant supports the continued development and growth of Virginia Fresh Match. The Virginia Fresh Match network brings together organizations including farmers markets, local food nonprofits, and key stakeholders in order to address food security, farmer viability, and affordable access to fresh produce. Virginia Fresh Match capitalizes on the expertise of community leaders and builds collaborations between farmers markets, retail grocery stores, service providers, farmers, SNAP consumers, and community partners.
Roanoke Co+op is one of the 70+ Virginia Fresh Matchincentive sites in all eight regions of Virginia. To build the grocery retail incentive program, LEAP and Virginia Fresh Match are working closely with the national nonprofit Wholesome Wave, which supports and guides grocery store incentive programs across the country.
As Virginia Fresh Match incentive site, Roanoke Co+op offers a 50% discount on fresh produce to customers who use SNAP at check out. As Virginia’s second Virginia Fresh Match grocery site, the co-op plays a pivotal role in informing the development of Virginia grocery incentive programs. In the Roanoke area, SNAP shoppers can use Virginia Fresh Match at both Roanoke Co+op locations (downtown and Grandin Village), GrandinVillage Farmers Market, West End Farmers Market, Salem Farmers Market, Historic Downtown Farmers Market, LEAP Mobile Market, Vinton Farmers Market, and the WELL (in Gainsboro).
For more information about these and other Virginia Fresh Match sites, visit www.VirginiaFreshMatch.org.
