Nutrition incentive program expands outreach to Farmers’ Market

A statewide incentive program to give residents access to healthy, nutritious food is working on expanding its outreach to every corner of Louisiana. It’s called Greaux for Good, and it comes at a time when higher food prices have been on the minds of anyone who eats. The program provides state funding to farmers’ markets and other eligible entities to match funding, and in some cases, even doubles shoppers’ grocery budgets.

It allows providers to create or expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or a Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) incentive program.

Emerie Holtzclaw is the market manager for the Shreveport Farmers’ Market, and she said the program has already made a difference for local families.

“This is the third year we’ve been participating at the Shreveport Farmers’ Market.

“It’s really benefitting this area. It’s available to anyone on food stamps and covers anything for sale at the market that is food stamp eligible.”

Holtzclaw said they have an average of around 25 people who take advantage of the program each week for the 13-week run of the market.

The user checks in at the information booth and tells the staff how much of their food stamp allotments they want to use in the market. Then, that amount is matched, up to $20, in tokens that the buyer can use in the market.

Emerie Eck Holtzclaw

The program impact statement from the state of Louisiana for year two, from July 2023 to June 2024, said, “Greaux the Good maximizes food benefit dollars by matching SNAP and FMNP benefits, $1 for $1. Shoppers utilizing these benefits receive incentives (discounts, coupons, match currency, etc.) to spend with participating partners.”

Many shoppers have said that additional money for shopping is a great deal. Holtzclaw added, “The prices are really competitive, too.” She said if you thought farmers’ market prices were too high, you might be pleasantly surprised after a trip downtown on the next market weekend.

According to Market Umbrella, a non-profit based in New Orleans that operates the program, nutrition incentive programs attract shoppers who use benefit program dollars and empower them to purchase more fresh foods directly from local producers. This mutual exchange between farmers and the community positively impacts the state’s agricultural economy and increases local food access. Holtzclaw agreed, saying it’s a win for the farmers who make the produce, for the consumers who purchase the produce, and for the nutrition of the families who eat locally produced food items that are fresh from the farm.

In year two, the nutrition incentive program added five new partners.

According to the organization, over 900,000 families are enrolled in SNAP in Louisiana. It says 15% of families are classified as “food insecure.”

As Holtzclaw put it, “The farmers want to be here because we are bringing more customers and more money into the market.” She said it’s helping small farmers continue to produce fruits and vegetables for the markets, and after all, “They’re not making farmers anymore.”

More information on the program and the current locations offering the incentives can be found at www.greauxthegoodla.org.