Iowans facing food insecurity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to get free fruits and vegetables at more than 100 grocery stores statewide. This month, 106 Fareway stores, 13 Hy-Vee stores and additional food co-ops and farmers markets are joining the Double Up Food Bucks program. The program, administered by the Healthiest State Initiative, received $1 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to fund the grocery sector expansion and add new farmers markets for 2020. The healthy food incentive program allows SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) customers to match purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables made with their EBT or P-EBT card, up to $10 per day, with Double Up Food Bucks that can be spent on additional fresh produce. All new Fareway and Hy-Vee stores added with CARES Act funding will be considered temporary locations. Double Up Food Bucks is also available at more than 20 farmers markets, farm stands and food co-ops across the state. The program will also help specialty crop farmers who tend to sell at farmers markets and have experienced disruptions in their business, said Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, who leads the Feeding Iowans Task Force. “These funds will definitely amplify Iowa’s efforts to address food insecurity during the pandemic,” Gregg said. To view a map of all participating sites and learn more about how to use the program, visit DoubleUpIowa.org. 

Iowa Stops Hunger is a year long Business Publications Corporation initiative to bring awareness and action to food insecurity in Iowa.