NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. — A new program at a local food store is attempting to make fresh and local food more affordable.
Its called Double Up Food Bucks New York, and it will now be used by Market in the Square at their stores in North Tonawanda and West Seneca.
This aims to help shoppers who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP) by providing a dollar-for-dollar match on produce purchases.
"The amount of people who come up and thank us because they didn't know this was an option to them, and it's allowing them the ability to purchase more food, more fresh produce, for their families, so it really is a wonderful program that's helping not just the customers, but the farmers as well." said Lynn Allard, the owner of True To Our Roots Farm.
The Double Up incentive is offered through a coupon that is given up to SNAP customers automatically when they purchase produce.
According to the New York State Department of Health, 1 in 5 people are struggling to put food on their table. The Double Up program is one way the state is attempting to combat food insecurity, which is at 18.7 percent in Niagara County.