FLORIDA — A new incentive has been launched to help lower-income families get better access to fresh produce, while helping support Florida growers.
WFTV spoke with USDA secretary Tom Vilsack, who visited Freshfields Farm grocery store in Orlando, about the millions of dollars in funding that will help people in Florida.
The store is dedicated to fresh produce and supporting local growers.
"We're in a store that does 20 percent of its business with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) families and we want to encourage SNAP families to have access to fruits and vegetables," said Vilsack.
The USDA is funding projects in 26 states.
The Florida Certified Growers and Consumers Organization is one of eight multi-year large scales projects.
It's being awarded more than $1.9 million to expand the Fresh Access Bucks program, more commonly known as FAB. The program allows food stamp participants to double their food dollars and buy fresh Florida-grown fruits and vegetables at Farmer's Markets and stores around the state.
The money will also benefit the farmers growing the produce.
"So, this is an opportunity for us to continue to support local producers by expanding access to market opportunities to the 46 million people who are currently in the SNAP program, who often times, in the past, have been going to discount grocery stores. Now, they have the opportunity to go to a farmer's market. Now, have the opportunity to come to a place like this," said Vilsack.
In addition to the money helping expand the FAB project, Vilsack also announced millions of dollars that will support research to fight citrus greening disease that's infected Florida's citrus crop.
WFTV
