Now more than ever, families across Pennsylvania want to eat nutritious, wholesome foods. But when a head of lettuce costs more than a bag of potato chips, it’s easy to see why the healthiest choice may not always be the easiest choice—and why, when shoppers have a limited budget, putting healthy food on the table is simply out of reach.

In fact, only 8.4% of Pennsylvania adults are eating the recommended serving of fruit per day. Without access to healthy, affordable food, Americans are at a higher risk for a host of diet-related diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. In 2014 alone, the U.S. spent over $160 billion on food insecurity-related illness. And when families can’t afford to buy fresh produce, they’re not the only ones who suffer: American farmers are losing their livelihood, and rising health care costs affect every taxpayer.

But we can change that.

Nutrition incentive programs for shoppers who rely on SNAP—a simple idea that started at farmers markets and has grown to supermarkets and other retailers—empowers families to make healthier choices by making fresh produce more affordable. Since The Food Trust launched SNAP incentive programming in 2010, shoppers have taken home nearly $2 million in additional fresh produce. The program has seen considerable growth throughout the last decade, small businesses have been particularly impacted, seeing increased SNAP sales and doubling or even tripling their produce sales.  

SNAP Incentives are currently active in 17 counties within PA through federal USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP, formerly FINI) grants. Expanding this program addresses a major barrier to healthier eating--cost--while simultaneously boosting revenues for local businesses and growers.

Please join us in asking Pennsylvania to expand the Food Bucks program to meet the needs of growers, small businesses, and struggling families. Expanding the program at this crucial time would support PA’s regional food economies and small businesses, while simultaneously increasing access to nutritious food at a time when many budgets are tighter.