Grow the Good logo and photo of farmers' market

Families, Health, and Economies Grow When
Mississippi Invests in SNAP Incentives

Many families and individuals across Mississippi struggle with hunger and rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help stretch their food dollars and purchase healthier foods. The reality is that two-thirds of SNAP participants are families with children, working families, the elderly and people with disabilities.

To help more Mississippians have access to healthy foods, the American Heart Association, alongside Together for Hope and the Therizo Foundation, is asking state lawmakers to "Grow the Good" by funding SNAP incentives programs. This would provide matching dollars to participating retailers and farmers markets for SNAP recipients to purchase additional fresh fruits and vegetables. To learn more, sign up for our Grow the Good Virtual Fireside Chat on January 27, 2022 from 12-1PM CT.

Join us in asking lawmakers to support a policy to fund $700,000 annually for SNAP incentives programs! This would pay for more than 1.1 million fruit and vegetable servings for 26,315 Mississippi families. 

Investing in SNAP healthy food incentives funding would:

  • Grow the economy, especially local businesses. For every $5 spent on SNAP incentives, it generates $9 in economic activity. Over 3,000 small businesses in Mississippi depend on SNAP and SNAP incentives to survive. 
  • Grow local agriculture, helping farmers markets thrive. Farmers markets in underserved areas are more likely to thrive when they accept SNAP, incentives and vouches for food at the market. 
  • Grow healthy Mississippians, improving public health. SNAP is linked with reduced health care costs. On average, low-income adults participating in SNAP incur nearly 25% less in medical care costs. The difference is even greater for those with hypertension and coronary heart disease.

We invite you to advocate with us for the necessary funds to add these financial incentives, so that our friends and family who rely on SNAP to provide for their families are able to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Together, we can Grow the Good by driving economic growth for local farmers and businesses and building healthier communities. Check out the valuable resources below, so you can become a strong advocate to help "Grow the Good."

Resources

In the News

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