Virginia Fresh Match Nutrition Incentive Program Sustains Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Despite Increased Food Insecurity after Emergency SNAP Benefit Cuts, New Study Finds

A new study co-authored by Becca Hagedorn-Hatfield examines how the end of COVID-19 emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments affected food security, fruit and vegetable intake, and food procurement experiences among shoppers using the Virginia Fresh Match (VFM) nutrition incentive program.

Conducted as a cross-sectional survey across community-based food stores and farmers’ markets participating in VFM, the research assessed reported benefit reductions, shopping experiences, dietary intake, and food security using the USDA 6-item Food Security Survey.

The study’s results underscore the importance of robust SNAP benefit levels and the strengthening of nutrition incentive programs like Virginia Fresh Match to help households with food insecurity maintain access to healthy foods.

Read the full article on ScienceDirect.

Altarum has supported organizations with evaluation and implementation services for over three decades in more than 40 states and territories. Our team of experts includes registered dietitians with decades of evaluation experience and subject matter expertise in nutrition security, obesity and chronic disease prevention, physical activity, SNAP, and WIC. Explore more of our Food and Nutrition work.