The economy is forcing poor food choices leading to bad health: Nationwide 46 million Americans now use SNAP (the former food stamp program) benefits—about one in seven. With family budgets becoming tighter, however, it’s recognized that Americans’ diets are suffering as people are forced to choose affordable food rather than what is necessarily nutritious. Fruits and vegetables, in particular, are more expensive than other foods and likely to be passed over in favor of starchier, cheaper, more filling meals that may lack many essential vitamins and that may contribute to obesity. Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, all related to poor diet, are chief drivers of higher health care costs. The cost is exacerbated to the state when low-income people who must be covered by state and county funding have to seek medical treatment.
Subsidies and incentives work: Studies show that subsidies encourage people to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Bonus coupons are one approach to getting people to eat healthily. Yale behavioral economist Dean Karlan explains: "So in the case of broccoli you'd want to find out who's not eating broccoli and then pay them to eat it," he says. You don't want to necessarily make broccoli cheaper for those who are already buying plenty of it.” (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124610428 )
Nationwide, four foundations—Fair Food Network, Roots of Change, Wholesome Wave, and Market Umbrella are promoting farmers' market incentive programs to address the issue of affordability of fresh produce. Wholesome Wave donated $100,000 to the City Heights Farmers’ Market in San Diego, which operated its own bonus program beginning in 2008, and also attracted startup money from San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts. In Michigan, Double Up Food Bucks now operates in 40 farmers’ markets around the state. This program was funded in 2011 by Fair Food Network using $3 million from a nationwide funder plus $1 million in matching grants.
http://www.farmlandinfo.org/documents/37781/ebt_matching_programs_rachel_winch.pdf
Benefit to California Economy: The increased use of benefits for locally grown fruits and vegetables brings economic benefit to California farmers rather than sending the money out of state. Many area farmers reside and farm in Los Angeles County itself. The presence of farmers’ markets has also been shown by studies to help the economy of the surrounding area. Finally, the CalFresh program stimulates $9 in economic activity for every $5 in benefits spent.
Vision for Los Angeles County: The potential for a program like Market Match is enormous and helps address the economic recession and the health crisis caused by poor diet. Market Match is currently operating at 16 Los Angeles County markets, and a relatively small investment of $1 million could spur $1.7 million in area economic activity and combined with other endeavors, provide a concrete way of improving the diet of hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable county residents. There are 120 farmers markets in LA County, of which about 40 participate in Market Match. Currently there is not sufficient funding for the others. Bringing Market Match to the remaining markets that accept CalFresh would be a wise investment in ending hunger, promoting health, boosting the economy , and protecting the environment.
In an age of budgets in billions, this is a small amount of money that can go a long way.