Volume 10 — August 29, 2013
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Implementing a Farmers’ Market Incentive Program: Perspectives on the New York City Health Bucks Program
| Year | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Health Bucks issued | 3,000 | 9,000 | 10,449 | 112,919 | 113,454 | 138,930 |
| Percentage distributed as EBT incentive | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 65 | 71 |
| Percentage distributed through community-based organizations | 100 | 100 | 100 | 49 | 35 | 29 |
| No. distributed as EBT incentive | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57,589 | 73,745 | 98,640 |
| No. distributed through community-based organizations | 3,000 | 9,000 | 10,449 | 55,330 | 39,709 | 40,290 |
Figure 1. The number of Health Bucks coupons issued
as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic benefit
transfer (EBT) incentives and through community-based organizations, New
York City, 2005 through 2010.
| Percentage that agree: Because my stand or stall accepts Health Bucks . . . | Agree |
|---|---|
| I need more staff to help operate my stand or stall | 21% |
| Customer traffic at my stands or stall moves slower | 23% |
| I am able to participate in more farmers’ markets | 36% |
| My stand or stall has a greater variety of items to sell | 41% |
| My stand or stall at this market has expanded | 42% |
| My customers are more likely to make cash purchases | 48% |
| My customers buy more new or unfamiliar foods | 57% |
| I have more repeat customers | 70% |
| I sell more fresh fruits and vegetables | 72% |
| New customers shop at my stand or stall more often | 74% |
| I make more money at the market | 75% |
Figure 2. Weighted percentage of farmer/vendor survey
respondents (n = 141) who agreed with statements that “Because my stand or
stall accepts Health Bucks, . . . ”.
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions.
