Family Fares in Grand Rapids offer expanded fruit & veggie options for SNAP participants

SpartanNash will be offering Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), a program that helps participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to earn additional dollars for fresh fruits and vegetables  at 17 Family Fare locations throughout western, southern and northern Michigan, including in Grand Rapids. SpartanNash is the only major grocery retail chain with multiple stores participating in Double Up Food Bucks in the state.

This is the third year SpartanNash has offered the Double Up Food Bucks program. Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Communications Meredith Gremel says the program fits  perfectly within the SpartanNash commitment to local communities, social responsibility and environmental sustainability.  “First, it’s the right thing to do,” she says. “It supports SNAP customers, who don’t have easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables and it supports Michigan farmers.”  Gremel notes the majority of the Family Fare stores have a strong neighborhood presence and all have associates who are trained on how the program works and can help any customers with questions.

Gremel says the program has been a real success and the number of participating stores has tripled in the last three years.  “We started with two stores, then five stores and now 17,” she explains. “Last year with five stores we had over 11,000 people who used DUFB. For our soft launch on August 1st this year, we had 1,200 customers participate.” 

The Double Up Food Bucks program is a public-private partnership administered by Fair Food Network with support provided by federal, state and private sources. The program is available from August 1 to December 31 at more than 150 farmers markets and 34 additional grocery stores in Michigan, the majority of which are SpartanNash’s independent customers.

For each dollar of fresh Michigan produce SNAP customers purchase at participating Family Fare stores using their Bridge Card and yes Rewards Card between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31, an equivalent amount of points will be earned and placed on their yes Card. Shoppers can then redeem the points at any participating Family Fare store for free fruits and vegetables. Each point is valued at $1, with a maximum dollar-for-dollar match of $20 per day on their yes Card.
 
The Family Fare Supermarkets taking part in the Double Up Food Bucks program in Rapid Growth’s coverage area include:
 
Greater Grand Rapids area
 
·        Leonard – 1225 Leonard, NE in Grand Rapids
·        Fulton Heights – 1415 E. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids
·        Rogers Plaza – 1148 28th St., SW in Wyoming
·        Burlingame – 2900 Burlingame Ave., SW in Wyoming
·        Breton Meadows – 4325 Breton Road, SE in Grand Rapids
·        Kentwood – 6127 Kalamazoo, SE in Kentwood
 
Holland
 
·        Butternut – 993 Butternut Dr.
·        S. Washington – 1185 S. Washington

The DUFB is only one of many community programs that SpartanNash supports. You can learn more their more about their commitment to the triple bottom line here.
 
And to learn more about the Double Up Food Bucks program, please go here.

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor