ALPENA — As farmers market season kicks off in May, Alpena Farmers Market is happy to announce its participation in the Double Up Food Bucks program, administered by Fair Food Network. The Alpena Farmers Market joins more than 230 other locations across Michigan participating in Double Up — making fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables more within reach of families using SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps).

Double Up Food Bucks is designed to incentivize the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for individuals and families using SNAP benefits. By using their Michigan Bridge/EBT cards at participating farmers markets like the Alpena Farmers Market, SNAP recipients can increase their purchasing power, receiving a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh fruit and vegetable purchases, up to $20 per day.

“Double Up Food Bucks supports families by helping them to bring home more fresh fruits and vegetables, especially as groceries have become so expensive. Additionally, it puts more dollars into the pockets of our local farmers, strengthening our communities and keeping dollars flowing in our local Michigan economies,” said Cassidy Strome, associate director of Double Up Food Bucks at Fair Food Network.

In addition to offering Double Up Food Bucks, the Alpena Farmers Market accepts EBT and Senior Project Fresh coupons supporting healthier food access for all residents and Michigan’s local agriculture through these programs. The Alpena Farmers’ Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at Mich-e-ke-wis Park.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Double Up Food Bucks, first launched in Detroit in 2009 by Michigan-based, national nonprofit Fair Food Network. Since then, the program has become a national model for nutrition incentives and has been adopted by partners in 30 states to improve healthy food access and boost local economies in their communities.

For more information, contact Brook Alloway at brookalloway@hotmail.com or call 989-590-7544.