Field & Fork Network is thrilled to kick off the fourth season of our Double Up Food Bucks program! Double Up Food Bucks is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentive that increases access to fresh, healthy foods for low-income consumers by matching federal food assistance benefits $1 for $1. The 2017 season will include more than 90 sites across 11 Western New York counties and will include the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Rochester. Continued expansion will also diversify the program’s access points to add year-round markets, more seasonal farmers markets, mobile markets and healthy corner stores.

Last week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the REAP Olean Farmers Market—a Double Up Food Bucks site—to speak out against proposed cuts to SNAP. Sen. Gillibrand discussed how SNAP helps the Olean farmers’ market and other markets across the country expand their customer base while encouraging people to buy local and eat healthy. You can read more about the senator’s stop at the market here.

For more information on the Double Up Food Bucks, including a map of this season’s participating locations, please visit the program website.