Double Up Food Bucks program helps Hawaii residents, farmers

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Hawaii's Double Up Food Bucks program continues to help local farmers and families. | Pixabay

Hawaii’s “Double Up Food Bucks” program has been helping farmers and families since 2015, when it launched as a pilot program on Hawaii Island, according to Honolulu Civil Beat.

The program first launched as DA BUX at farmers’ markets, and expanded in 2017 and 2019, to all of the state’s islands.

SNAP benefits are doubled when used on qualifying items at more than 70 different retail locations across the state. Even before the pandemic, DA BUX provided support for families – getting more food when needed, encouraging more to buy locally grown foods. Not only that, but it is supporting the local economy.

The pandemic has also put pressure on Hawaii’s farmers. Local agricultural producers have lost millions per week because restaurants and hotels that purchase their produce have been shut down. But DA BUX is helping those farmers too. Local food producers are getting better placement, which gives consumers more exposure to the local products. DA BUX also makes it easier for participants to support local farmers and ranchers because they can order online and pick up in other locations.

Participants receive discounts on qualifying products, allowing them to extend their food budgets.

According to Honolulu Civil Beat, Farm Link Hawaii joined the program in October.

“SNAP and DA BUX have been incredibly important to enable low-income households to support their local farmers and ranchers. SNAP recipients can order produce, dairy, eggs, meats, seafood and more on our online marketplace and pay using EBT at our pickup locations in Kalihi and Haleiwa,” said Rob Barreca, Farm Link Hawaii Founder and CEO.

Many see the program as one worth continuing and expanding It is expected to continue through June 2021 with current funding levels, and there have been efforts to raise more money.

Philanthropic partners committed $500,000 to the program and the State of Hawaii matched that, for a total of $1 million committed to extend the program.