Residents living in Toomey Abbott Tower and the neighboring Pioneer Homes in Syracuse have a new incentive to purchase fresh produce. The Double Up Food Bucks program offers a dollar for dollar match for those enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
The Syracuse Housing Authority partnered with the Field and Fork Network to offer the program at Toomey Abbott Market located on the first floor of the 300 unit high rise apartment building. Store owner Jay Patel says Double Up Food Bucks has been a big success since they began about six weeks ago.
“We did almost 1600 transactions and almost 300 people have signed up for it," Patel said. "This program works really good. Our customers love this program.”
Carol Perez has been a Toomey Abbott resident for 15 years.
“It's kind of a cool program. All I got to do is spend a little, get more than I receive," Perez said.
Toomey Abbott Market is the only grocery option for the seniors and people with disabilities who live there and have limited access to transportation. The nearest full service grocery store is over a mile away. Senator Rachel May says the state added $2 million to the program in this year’s budget, which aims to encourage healthier eating habits by increasing access to fruits and vegetables.
“This is a store that really serves a large community," May said. "A lot of people can walk to this store from apartments all around here in an area of Syracuse that has struggles with access to healthy food.”
Maura Ackerman is director of the Syracuse/Onondaga Food Systems Alliance, or SOFSA. Much of the produce will be sourced locally.
“Initiatives like double up food bucks are not just putting produce on the shelves, they're stimulating economic growth within our community," Ackerman said. “By incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables, we’re supporting local farmers and food producers and creating positive economic impact that ripples through our neighborhoods and our region's food system.”
Toomey Abbott Market is the sixth double up food bucks location in Onondaga County, and joins 220 stores in 32 counties across the state. SNAP shoppers can spend up to $20 per day on produce, and get it matched through the program.
