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The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other agencies to increase buying power of locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Double Up Oklahoma (DUO) program lets recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) stretch their food dollars by matching up to $20 of SNAP benefits per day at participating farmer’s markets. A pilot program has been in place in Tulsa for several years, and is now expanding statewide.
“This program will allow SNAP recipients to literally double the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables they buy,” said Jim Struby, director of the DHS Adult and Family Services Division. “Customers who participate in farmer’s market SNAP incentive programs like this consistently report eating a more healthy diet. Expanding this program statewide will also allow our clients to double their buying power.”
The program begins July 1. Communities participating in the DUO program include farmer’s markets in Tulsa, Guthrie, Norman, Muskogee, Okmulgee and Oklahoma City. Additional farmer’s markets will be added to the program next year.
The Double Up program is made possible nationwide through a $16.8 million dollar USDA grant to increase SNAP dollars spent on fruits and vegetables and encourage recipients to eat healthy.
“The SNAP program is 100 percent federally funded, and brings in a significant amount of revenue to the state,” Struby said. “This is an opportunity to promote community well-being while also supporting our local farmers.”
An average of 614,884 Oklahomans received SNAP benefits during the last fiscal year; more than 350,000 of those are children, seniors and people with disabilities.
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