Impact of Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives on Household Fruit and Vegetable Expenditures

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health Interventions
• Food Policy

Background:

• The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant program aimed to improve access to fruits and vegetables for low-income households.
• Understanding the impact of such incentive programs on purchasing behaviors is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of the FINI grant program on self-reported fruit and vegetable (FV) expenditures among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households.
• To assess the role of point-of-sale incentives in influencing FV purchasing habits.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post quasi-experimental study design was employed.
• 2,471 SNAP households near FINI retailers (farmers markets, grocery stores) and matched comparison groups were analyzed.
• Ordinary least squares intent-to-treat regression was used to model changes in FV expenditures.

Main Results:

• Awareness of FINI incentives was associated with increased incentive receipt.
• Households receiving incentives reported an average of $15-$23 in incentives per shopping trip.
• FINI participation led to a significant increase in average monthly FV expenditures, ranging from $9 to $15.

Conclusions:

• Point-of-sale incentives are effective in increasing FV expenditures among SNAP households.
• Further research should explore effective messaging strategies and the long-term effects of these incentive programs.