Grant Expands SNAP Recipients’ Access to Fresh Foods

JACKSON, Miss.  –  Today the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant program, awarded AARP Foundation a grant of $3.3 million, with an additional $1 million coming from UnitedHealthcare, to implement a multi-year $6.6 million incentive program in Tennessee and Mississippi to increase the purchase and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The goal of this program is to increase the purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables and to improve nutrition and health outcomes for low-income consumers.

“We are very pleased to receive this generous grant from USDA that underscores AARP Foundation’s important work to ensure all Americans can afford nutritious food and lead productive, healthful lives,” said Kelly Cress Interim AARP Mississippi State Director. “I would also like to thank our friends at UnitedHealthcare, Kroger Co., the Mississippi Department of Human Service and Department of Agriculture for their support, because collaboration of this magnitude is crucial in finding a solution to end senior hunger.”

Encouraging more nutritious diets is a focus in the health care industry, which recognizes better nutrition as a disease prevention and health promotion measure. AARP Foundation agrees with this view and believes making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible is particularly important for older adults and individuals living with limited or fixed incomes.

“Mississippi ranks 21.1% higher than the national average for food insecurity in the United States,” said Jocelyn C. Carter, CEO UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Mississippi, the company’s Medicaid business. “We won’t let the trend continue and are grateful for the opportunity to work together with AARP Foundation to invest in programs that support access to healthy and affordable food in the state.”

Beginning in September 2015, SNAP recipients will be able to take advantage of this incentive program at select Kroger’s stores and farmers markets. AARP Foundation is contracting with Wholesome Wave, a non-profit organization with a track record of establishing incentive programs, to provide training and technical assistance to farmers markets and to assist with implementation of the outreach plan.