Strengthening the Connection Between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Farmer’s Markets
GIS SNAPSHOTS — Volume 13 — December 8, 2016
PEER REVIEWED
Panel A shows the percentage of households receiving SNAP, by census tract and the locations of farmer’s markets with and without FINI programs. There were 85 farmer’s markets with FINI programs, 83 without FINI programs, and 29 in areas with high SNAP populations (21%–79% of households in the census tract received SNAP benefits) without FINI programs. Most farmer’s markets were in King County; most of these were markets with FINI programs and in areas where 20% or less of households participate in SNAP. Spokane County and King County each had 2 markets in high-SNAP areas without FINI programs. No data were available for census tracts in northern Adams County and eastern Benton County, in the eastern part of the state. Sources: SNAP data: American Community Survey, 2010–2014; farmer’s market data: Department of Health SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) and Healthy Eating Active Living Programs, February 2016. Panel B shows the proximity of households receiving SNAP to farmer’s markets offering FINI programs. There were 143 urban farmer’s markets and 25 rural farmer’s markets; the areas around those markets that are within a 5-minute drive and a 10-minute drive to the market are identified. Sources: Drive time data: Esri ArcMap Network Analyst (version 10.0); farmer’s market data: Department of Health SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) and Healthy Eating Active Living Programs, February 2016.
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) programs incentivize Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase more fruits and vegetables. The Washington State Department of Health developed these maps of the state to 1) assess the geographic distribution of farmer’s markets with FINI programs in relation to areas with high SNAP populations (>20% of households participate in SNAP) (panel A); 2) estimate the number of SNAP households with reasonable proximity to farmer’s market offering FINI programs (panel B); and 3) identify farmer’s markets that should be prioritized for future SNAP incentive programming.
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.