Children’s Community Health Plan is joining a Fondy Food Center- led program to double the amount of fresh produce that eligible consumers can buy with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, at the Fondy Farmers Market. Customers using vouchers from SNAP – also known as FoodShare – or the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program will be able to purchase more produce because of the match provided by this program.

“Incentive programs are a win-win all around – people will get more fresh vegetables, and small farmers will see an increase in their sales, making them more economically sustainable for the long term” said Young Kim, executive director of Fondy Food Center.

Fondy Food Center, which works to fill the need for fresh, locally-grown food on Milwaukee’s north side, has been offering a match for SNAP and WIC for years but the popular program has run out of funds quickly– in 2014, $20,000 in WIC match dollars were used in two weeks. The expansion of the match program to include SNAP participants is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Wholesome Wave, with additional support from Children’s Community Health Plan, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and others.

“Children’s Community Health Plan is pleased to support this farmers market incentive program, because it supports the health of community members,” said Mark Rakowski, Children’s Community Health Plan vice president. “Incentive programs across the country have been shown to increase participants’ consumption of fruits and vegetables.”

SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.

Children’s Community Health Plan to support Fondy Food Center to increase the amount of fresh produce for eligible consumers

Since 2000, Fondy Food Center has been committed to its mission of connecting neighborhoods to fresh local food – from farm to market to table – so that children learn better, people live healthier, and communities embrace cultural food traditions. The funds issued to Fondy Food Center will increase affordable access to fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP consumers in Milwaukee, while also supporting local agriculture.

About Children’s Community Health Plan

Children’s Community Health Plan, a member of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, is an HMO dedicated to providing access to the highest-quality health care and services to individuals of all ages covered by the BadgerCare Plus program. With the combined resources of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Children’s Community Services, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin- Primary Care and community partners, Children’s Community Health Plan is committed to improving the medical and social well-being of its members and the community.