When a person eligible for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) uses his or her SNAP Bridge Card to shop for food at a farmers' market, the amount of money that he or she spends is matched with Double Up Food Bucks bonus tokens.

About Us

Download program updates and flyers: Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, North Michigan, Southwest Michigan.
To apply for a Bridge Card, use MiBridges.
For information on emergency food assistance, visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan or call United Way’s 2-1-1 service (dial 211 on any phone).
For information on Michigan farmers' markets, visit the Michgan Farmers Market Association.
For nutrition information, visit the Food and Nutrition Service.

Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks program “matches” Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance benefits spent at participating farmers’ markets in Michigan and Toledo.

Our Goals

The program has two goals: to increase access to and affordability of healthy foods for low-income families and individuals and to create new sales opportunities for Michigan farmers.

Pilot programs in Detroit and several other cities in the U.S. indicate that a small incentive can result in a major change in the buying habits for low-income families. Due to Double Up Food Bucks, between August and October of 2010, Detroit Eastern Market experienced a 368% increase in food assistance buying power compared to the same period of 2009.

Double Up Food Bucks also provides economic benefits to farmers by increasing demand for Michigan produce: Double Up Food Bucks tokens can ONLY be spent on Michigan-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Between August and October of 2010, a total of $203,451 in SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks tokens were spent at participating markets, with the money going directly in the pockets of Michigan growers and food businesses.

Our History and Future Plans

Double Up Food Bucks began as a pilot project at five markets in Detroit in 2009. Double Up Food Bucks launched in August 2010 at the same five markets and quickly expanded to include markets in the Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, and Toledo areas. Now in its second year, Double Up Food Bucks will include over 40 Michigan farmers’ markets in the 2011 market season.

Over the next three years, Double Up Food Bucks will expand to include more of the 79 Michigan farmers’ markets that accept Bridge Cards.

The Double Up Food Bucks program is being evaluated by professionals from the Detroit-based firm JFM Consulting. Results of the evaluation will be published as they are available.

Who funds Double Up Food Bucks?

Double Up Food Bucks is generously supported by nearly 30 private and community foundations and corporations throughout Michigan and beyond, including:

Americana Foundation
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
Bank of America
Battle Creek Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
C.S. Mott Foundation
Erb Family Foundation
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
The Jewish Fund
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Kresge Foundation
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Michigan Department of Human Services
Michigan Nutrition Network
Open Society Foundations
Ruth Mott Foundation
Slemons Foundation
United Way - Southeast Michigan
USDA Rural Development
Whole Foods Market
Wholesome Wave
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Woodcock Foundation