$6 Million Investment from 89th Texas Legislature Supports Texas Families and Farmers

AUSTIN, TEXAS – A second landmark investment in nutrition incentives from the State of Texas paves the way for continued growth of nutrition programs like SFC’s Double Up Food Bucks Texas (Double Up Texas). Double Up Texas doubles SNAP benefits to spend on local fruit and vegetables at over 100 participating locations across Texas. 

We’re thrilled to share a major win for healthy food access in Texas: the state has made a second, historic investment in nutrition incentive programs like Double Up Texas. Thanks to support from state lawmakers during the 89th Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature approved $6 million in general revenue funding to expand nutrition incentive programs across the state in the 2026 – 2027 biennium. 

This victory, secured through the advocacy of Sustainable Food Center (SFC) and our partners, marks a powerful step forward in building a more resilient food system for all Texans.

Double Up Texas, the state’s flagship nutrition incentive program, matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets. This means that families shopping with SNAP can double their purchasing power when buying produce – putting more healthy food on the table while supporting local farmers and food businesses. SFC administers Double Up Texas with support from state, federal, and philanthropic funding.

Between October 2023 and September 2024 (federal fiscal year 2024), 3,193,000 people in Texas – 1 in 10 – Texans received SNAP.

Double Up Texas was launched in Austin at SFC Farmers’ Market in 2012. Through regional partnerships and expansion into grocery stores, the program now has 105 participating locations in every region of the state. Currently, 46 farmers markets and 59 grocery stores participate in Double Up Texas. These sites support over 220 Texas farmers and bring millions of dollars in economic activity back into our local communities.

Double Up Food Bucks Texas is projected to generate $2 million in economic activity through sales at farmers’ markets, farm stands, and grocery stores in 2025.

SFC Farmers’ Market vendor and co-owner of Animal Farm, Cas Vanwoerden, has participated in Double Up Texas since the program was launched. “[With Double Up Texas], we see both increased attendance and an increase in sales,” Van Worden said. And now, with renewed state investment, Double Up Texas is poised for meaningful growth in both urban and rural areas of the state.

The post Texas Doubles Down on Healthy, Local Food: Texas Legislature Makes Second Investment in Nutrition Incentives appeared first on Sustainable Food Center.

During the 2023 Texas Legislative Session, Sustainable Food Center (SFC) led a community-driven campaign to advocate for funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentives, like Double Up Food Bucks Texas.

On June 19, 2023, the State of Texas approved the appropriation of $6 million in grant funding to SNAP incentive programs that provide recipients a dollar-for-dollar match to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. With the increased state funding, SNAP incentive programs can expand to more locations across Texas, with a particular focus on historically marginalized rural communities.

SNAP strengthens Texas food security

With four million Texas households experiencing food insecurity and the end of SNAP emergency allotments in February 2023, access to fresh food moves increasingly out of reach. Fortunately, programs like Double Up Food Bucks Texas utilize the power of SNAP to bring families more nutritious food, while supporting local farm businesses throughout our state.

For over a decade, SFC has built and expanded the Double Up Food Bucks Texas coalition through deep partnerships, community engagement, and outreach. Since 2019, they have received three rounds of funding from the USDA Gus Schumer Nutrition Incentive Program (USDA GusNIP) grant. Thanks to the USDA GusNIP grant, the support of multiple funding partners, and the deep trust and collaboration with regional partners, Double Up Food Bucks Texas has over 50 active sites across the state including El Paso, Dallas – Fort Worth, Brownsville, Lubbock, and beyond.

transformative connections

With this victory, SFC remains committed to being guided and informed by the communities we serve and our growing network of partners. We are thrilled and honored to work in partnership with organizations across the state to ensure the success of Double Up Food Bucks Texas for families, farmers, and local communities. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners, especially the Center for Science in the Public Interest; American Heart Association, Texas; Partnership for Healthy Texas; Colyandro Public Affairs; Brownsville Wellness Coalition; Desert Spoon Food Hub; Texas Food Policy Roundtable Partners; and farmers and farmers markets across Texas, for their instrumental support throughout the campaign. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in the Double Up Texas coalition and with Texas Health and Human Services to ensure that these funds have a maximum impact on Texas families and farmers.

The post CAMPAIGN VICTORY: State of Texas Appropriates $6 Million in Grant Funding to SNAP Incentive Programs appeared first on Sustainable Food Center.