Four South Dakota grocery stores are now offering participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) a chance to double up when they buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
Samantha Dvorak, SDSU Extension Family and Community Health Associate, says the “Double Up Dakota Bucks” program is aimed at helping those disproportionately affected by nutrition. She says families are able to stretch their SNAP food dollars with the purchase of healthy foods, while farmers sell more produce and local retailers get more business.
For every $1 spent on fresh fruits and vegetables, $1 is matched, up to $10 to $20 per customer, per visit. Participants can then return to the retailer to redeem Dakota Bucks for more fresh fruit and vegetable purchases.
Participating South Dakota retailers for SNAP/Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) participants are:
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Lakota Thrifty Mart, Dupree
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Cahoy’s General Store, Lake Andes
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Buche Foods, Oacoma
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Buche Foods, Wagner
Dvorak says cash cannot be used in place of the coupons, however, more than one coupon can be redeemed at a time to go towards the purchase of fresh produce. She says “Double Up Dakota Bucks” is limited to SNAP/EBT customers and locations because it is a grant-funded pilot program. South Dakota and non-South Dakota residents using an EBT card can earn and redeem “Double Up Dakota Bucks” only at the store where the coupon was earned. Other SNAP-eligible items will continue to ring up at a regular price.
For more information email samantha.dvorak@sdstate.edu.
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