trim a presentation
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Farmers’ Market Double Dollar Programs
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The Food Stamp Program was a formed through the Food Stamp Act in 1964 with the main objective of promoting food security and preventing hunger, the program mainly target low-income households (Landers 1946).
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Households were issued with redeemable coupons which they used to purchase food from approved retail stores. The selection criteria of households eligible for the program was based on the ability of the household to acquire food that met a standard nutritional diet.
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Income standards were the key determinant in determining whether a household could meet the required nutritional diet
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Evaluation of the program performance indicated that more focus had been put on consumer income inequality and food security with little efforts being made in improving nutrition and reducing nutrition-related health programs.
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Reports indicated increased cases of obesity over time in low-income households, there was a correlation between the obesity increase the food stamp program (Charles). Households benefiting from the food stamp program having more disposable income that was used to purchase foodstuff linked to obesity and other dietary health problems.
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The concern led to the redesigning of the Food Program to offer with a greater emphasis put on nutrition.
In 2008, the Farm Bill was passed into law changing the Food Stamp Program to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program mainly targets low-income households that have children, the elderly and the disabled.
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Citizens who have a gross income that gets to 130% of the federal poverty line are eligible for the program.
One has to apply for the program with the selection criteria varying from one state to another, one has to provide proof of income and also household expense before being approved for the program with a certification period that one is eligible to receive the benefits. (Shenkin & Jacobson 1562).
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Undocumented immigrants and a large percentage of students in the US are not eligible for the program, the minimum benefit period for unemployed adults is three months.
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The food purchase method on SNAP is based on the EBT system that allows beneficiaries to transfer funds from a federal account when making purchases from an approved retailer.
To determine the viability of the redesigned SNAP program, pilot programs were carried out with Healthy Incentive Pilot (HIP) being one of the key programs.
HIP tested on whether beneficiaries of the program would use the financial incentive to purchase fruits and vegetables.
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Farmers benefited from the Food Insecurity and Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program since there was an increase in demand for fruits and vegetables.
SNAP beneficiaries can only purchase products from markets licensed by the Food and Nutritional Service (FNS).
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The growth of the farmers market is attributed to the contribution made by the state, federal and local government in providing the necessary resources for the program.
. Retailers in the farmers market should sell products that require home preparation and sell directly to consumers from a specific fixed location.
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Through the double dollar program, local farmers in different states are able to benefit from the SNAP program while the beneficiaries are able to get a dollar for every purchase they make using from the market farmers.
The Department of Agriculture’s Food Insecurity Incentive has continuously provided funding for this program providing 50% funding while the rest is funded by respective state governments.
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The SNAP program is not only a hunger and poverty management program, but the program has also provided a suitable model that enables faster circulation of money which promotes economic growth as experienced during a recession (GUTHRIE et al.).
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Families are assured of food security as they work towards being self-sufficient and attaining financial stability.
.The success and sustainability of the SNAP program, Farmer’s Market and the Double Dollar programs will be determined by government policies and funding.
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Works Cited
Charles, Dan. “How 'Double Bucks' For Food Stamps Conquered Capitol Hill.” NPR, NPR, 10 Nov. 2014, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/11/10/361803607/how-double-bucks-for-food-stamps-conquered-capitol-hill.
Guthrie, Joanne et al. "Can Food Stamps Do More To Improve Food Choices? An Economic Perspective." Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-29) 2 pp 6.2 (2007): n. pag. Web.
Landers PS. The Food Stamp Program: History, nutrition, education, and impact. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2007;107(11): 1945-1951.
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Popkin, Barry M. "The Challenge In Improving The Diets Of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients: A Historical Commentary." American Journal of Preventive Medicine 52.2 (2017): S106-S114. Web.
Shenkin, Jonathan D. and Michael F. Jacobson. “Using the Food Stamp Program and Other Methods to Promote Healthy Diets for Low-Income Consumers.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 100, no. 9, 2010, pp. 1562–1564., doi:10.2105/ajph.2010.198549.
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