Fresh foods are the focus of a Double Up Food Bucks summer kick-off effort happening Saturday at nine participating locations across Flint.

Activities hosted by the program’s originator the Fair Food Network will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 22 and will include giveaways and coupons, according to organizers.

Shoppers will have the opportunity to talk to Double Up Food representatives and register for participation in the program that helps low-income families take home affordable fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

“As an additional bonus, all shoppers – not just current and new Double Up users – who visit Double Up sites this Saturday will be entered in a drawing to win $20 worth of free produce,” says Kellie Boyd, Double Up Food Bucks director.

The Double Up Food Bucks program works by matching federal Supplemental Nutrition Program benefits (SNAP, formerly food stamps) dollar-for-dollar, up to $20 per day at participating retailers, farmers’ markets and mobile markets. The matched benefits, known as Double Up Food Bucks, can be used to purchase many Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables and dairy products.

Anyone with a Bridge Card is eligible to sign up for Double Up for free.

“One of the best ways to support Flint’s children and families for years to come is to ensure good nutrition,” says Boyd, whose organization expanded its Double Up program in 2016.

“We expanded the program to reach more residents with the healthy foods needed to limit lead absorption stemming from the city’s water crisis,” says Boyd. “Since then we have seen an extraordinary increase in program use, but there are still so many more families who could be using this program.”

More than 14,000 households representing about 50 percent of Flint’s SNAP-eligible households currently use the program, according to Boyd. Prior to the expansion only 9 percent of eligible households utilized the program.

The program is making an impact, according to the Fair Food Network.

From June 2016 through April 2019, Flint residents have brought home more than $775,000 in fresh fruits and vegetables with Double Up Food Bucks, according to Boyd, who says combined with SNAP, residents’ produce and dairy purchases totaled nearly $1.5 million.

The program is a win-win-win for Flint residents and local growers and producers, according to Boyd who says the program improves people’s access to healthy food, supports Michigan farmers with new customers and more income, and strengthens communities like Flint by keeping food dollars circulating in the local economy.

Key to the program’s success has been its year-round availability and use of innovative technology to allow residents to carry earned Double Up Food Bucks on a loyalty card that can be used at any participating site in Flint, according to Boyd.

“This first-of-its-kind technology—developed by a local Flint company—has led to high redemption rates of 91 percent of Double Up dollars distributed, used by residents to bring home more fresh produce,” says Boyd.

Flint Double Up sites participating in the June 22 Double Up Food Bucks Summer Kickoff event include:

Flint Farmers’ Market ­– 300 East First St.

Great Giant Supermarket – 5204 Saginaw St.

Hutchinson Food and Drug – 6509 N Saginaw St.

Landmark Food Center – 206 West Pierson Rd.

Landmark Food Center – 4644 Fenton Rd.

Longhorn Meat Market – 3236 Corunna Rd.

Mr. B’s-Dupont Street – 4311 Dupont St.

Fresh Choice – 1916 Davison Rd.

The Local Grocer – 601 Martin Luther King Ave.

Flint Fresh Mobile is another Double Up vendor; however, it will not be participating in the Summer Kickoff event. Market Mobile market locations and times vary daily. Visit FlintFresh.com for current schedule.

Editor’s Note: This feature story is produced by our 810 Kids! staff. To see more great family-friendly stories and access tons of local event listings subscribe to 810 Kids! 

Flint residents can learn more about Double Up Food Bucks and find answers to frequently asked questions at http://www.doubleupfoodbucks.org/flint/.

  Double Up Food Bucks, Fair Food Network, Flint Farmer’s Market, Fresh Choice, Great Giant Supermarket, Hutchinson Food and Drug, Kellie Boyd, Landmark Food Center, Longhorn Meat Market, Mr. B’s-Dupont Street, The Local Grocer

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