In 2025, the Vernon-Crawford chapter of Wisconsin Farmers Union ran a pilot nutrition incentive program for SNAP recipients at Viroqua Farmers Market. SNAP, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides a monthly stipend of federal funds for select grocery items for individuals and families who meet income eligibility requirements. The pilot incentive program, also known as Double Dollars, matches whatever a SNAP recipient planned to spend at the farmers market that day, dollar for dollar.
Melissa Mahon Stein founded BearStone Acres farm with her husband in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Once she began growing her own produce, she put down roots as part of the farming community at the farmers markets in nearby communities, connecting with neighbors, fellow growers, and advocates for locally-grown food. And it was in those connections that she found a pathway to work with fellow Farmers Union chapter members to pilot a Double Dollars program. Now the chapter is raising money to continue funding the highly successful program.
“We’re not only providing more dollars for people to use, but we’re keeping more dollars local. When you spend your SNAP dollars at Wal-Mart, they leave immediately. Very little of what you spend at Wal-Mart stays in the community,” Mahon Stein said. “To keep that money in the community, it helps the community writ large. In rural spaces there is so much struggle to keep communities together and have them be strong and supported and keep people farming and pushing back against consolidation. This is one of those pieces that helps to build that. This is one brick in that building of community.”
Read the full story and watch a video about the program on the Wisconsin Farmers Union website.
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Wisconsin Farmers Union, a member-driven organization, is committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement. For more information visit www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com.
