Nutrition incentives are additional set dollar amounts used to match purchases of fresh produce at local farmers markets made through FNS/SNAP or WIC. In Catawba County, the Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market offers SNAP Double Bucks and WIC Bonus Bucks at their summer seasonal market. The Downtown Hickory Farmers Market offers SNAP Double Bucks at their year-round market. 

Since the 2023 Community Health Assessment, both farmers markets have been working together to identify opportunities for customer engagement to inform future growth and improvements of these nutrition incentive programs. We've also identified a continued need for financial sustainability of these programs, as well as a need to increase geographic reach within the county. 

In 2024, Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market secured a grant through Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC that enabled them to continue their Double Bucks program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match on FNS/SNAP purchases for fresh produce at our market, up to $30. This funding was also used to help sustain and expand their WIC Bonus Bucks program, doubling the amount each participant receives and increasing access to fresh, healthy food for families in our community.