The Sustaining Double SNAP Working Group (a sub-group of the Committee for Activity and Nutrition) is collaborating to advocate for and fund Double SNAP in Henderson County. Partners for this strategy include:

• Mills River Farm Market (lead)
• Hendersonville Farmers Market (lead)
• Bearwallow Valley Farm (lead)
• Caja Solidaria (support)
• Henderson County Department of Public Health (support)
• Henderson County Cooperative Extension- Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (support)

Double SNAP at Farmers Markets was identified by Henderson County Committee for Activity and Nutrition as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, has a reasonable change of making a difference in physical activity and nutrition in Henderson County. This is an ongoing program in our community.

SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a program that reduces household food insecurity and supports local agriculture by increasing the purchasing power of low-income Americans. Most SNAP participants are children. SNAP can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, bread, dairy, meat, eggs, and plants that grow food at farmers markets and grocery stores. Doubling SNAP at markets encourages SNAP participants to invest their SNAP benefits in the local community and gives them access to healthy fresh foods. 

The customers for this strategy are SNAP participants, and the program aims to make a difference at the individual and community levels. Implementation will take place at the Hendersonville Farmers Market, Mills River Farmers Market, and Bearwallow Valley Farm.

Double SNAP programs in Henderson County were supported by grant funding up until 2022. Through two successful policy campaigns over the past year, CAN members successfully obtained municipal funding for doubling SNAP both in the City of Hendersonville and the Town of Mills River. In total, $90,000 in American Rescue Plan dollars was committed to the Mills River Farm Market over a 3-year period, and $15,000 in City of Hendersonville funding for the Hendersonville Farmers Market. 

"It's a win-win," Mills River Mayor Shannon Gonce said about using ARPA, federal COVID19 recovery money, to bolster the farmers market.

https://carolinapublicpress.org/55067/sustaining-local-farmers-with-creative-arpa-funds-application/

The Double SNAP program had continued success through 2023 at Mills River and Hendersonville Farmer's Markets. Two additional Farmer's Market initiatives started in 2023. The Senior Farm Market at Mills River had 7 farmers participating and they hope to continue the program in 2024. Partnership with the Henderson County Cooperative Extension added in Farmer Market Passport program.  Those who returned the passport to the Extension office received a seed starter kit and/or a recipe cookbook. 

Dollar amount spent in 2023 for healthy local foods will be updated as data is reported. Healthy local foods include items such as fruits and vegetables and doesn't include meats, sweats, treats and drinks.