SNAP-Based Incentive Programs at Farmers' Markets: Adaptation Considerations for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Recipients

Abstract

Objective To describe the design, implementation, and consumer response to a coupon-style intervention aimed to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use at a farmers’ market (FM) among Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants. Design Quasi-experimental trial to evaluate redemption response to two coupon interventions; baseline surveys characterized coupon redeemers and non-redeemers. Setting Urban Participants TANF recipients assigned to either a plain (n=124) or targeted marketing coupon intervention (n=130). Intervention(s) Both groups received 10, $2 coupons to double fruit and vegetable SNAP purchases at the FM. Targeted marketing group also received an oral presentation designed to reduce perceived barriers to FM use. Main Outcome Measure(s) Coupon redemption Analysis T-tests and Chi-squared/Fisher’s exact tests were used to examine associations between redeemers and non-redeemers, while logistic regression was used to adjust for the intervention. Results No male and few female participants redeemed coupons (6.3%). Among women, those with vegetable preparation knowledge were three times more likely to redeem coupons than those with little/no knowledge, OR=3.8, 95% CI [1.03, 13.77]. Conclusions and Implications Stand-alone coupon incentive programs may not be a high-reach strategy for encouraging FM use among the TANF population. Complementary strategies to build vegetable preparation knowledge and skills are needed.

Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Programs for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participants: A Scoping Review of Program Structure

“…Differences in value may also be important, given that program retention is a challenge across the literature, and programs that provide less value may be less effective in encouraging ongoing participation. Notably, Wetherill et al [41] posited that low incentive redemption rates may be tied to perceived differences in the value of different kinds of incentives, as incentives that function as discounts and expand buying power may be less valuable to participants than incentives that provide free products.…”

“…In addition, the Healthy Incentives Program also assessed the program impact at various points throughout the implementation phase [7]. A few studies also used control or quasi-control groups to assess program impact [7,34,37,41,47]. The merits of quasi-control groups are somewhat limited if the comparison groups do not share important characteristics with the incentive program participants.…”

“…While this approach is not as rigorous as randomizing stores to the incentive or control condition, the use of matched controls is preferred to non-matched controls. Wetherill et al [41] employed a quasi-experimental design to compare two coupon interventions: basic information and plain coupon distribution compared to tailored, targeted marketing coupon intervention. However, low coupon redemption by either group made comparisons difficult.…”

“…Wetherill et al (2017) [41] Differences in baseline sociodemographic, predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors related to FV attitudes and behaviors by incentive redemption.…”

Barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption among farmers’ market incentive programme users in Illinois, USA

“…Premature spoilage of F&V and knowledge of cooking have also emerged as a barrier to F&V consumption among low-income populations in prior research (9,(25)(26)(27) . A study by Haynes-Maslow and colleagues found that perishability of F&V and cooking/nutrition knowledge emerged as key barriers to F&V purchasing (25) .…”