Experiences of Farmers Market Vendors in a Healthy Food Incentive Program

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Agricultural Economics

Background:

• Healthy food incentive programs aim to improve fruit and vegetable consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.
• Farmers markets are common venues for these programs, but vendor experiences and optimal implementation strategies require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate farmers market vendors' experiences with the Northwest Arkansas (NWA) Double Your Dollars (DYD) healthy food incentive program.
• To understand how the NWA DYD program impacted vendors and their engagement with Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese communities.

Main Methods:

• Face-to-face surveys were administered to 41 vendors at three major farmers markets in October 2021.
• Data collection included quantitative, categorical, and open-ended responses regarding program benefits, challenges, and perceived impacts.

Main Results:

• Vendors found the NWA DYD program beneficial and easy to use, reporting an expanded customer base and increased shopping by Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese participants.
• Key challenges included administrative burdens and delayed reimbursements, with no reported increase in production for the next growing season.

Conclusions:

• Vendor feedback from the NWA DYD program offers valuable insights for designing and implementing effective healthy food incentive programs.
• Enhancing access to farmers markets through such programs is crucial for promoting healthy food consumption in low-income communities disproportionately affected by chronic diseases.