I go to farmer’s markets regularly, and they can be pricey. For those with limited income and a tight budget, farmer’s market produce can simply be unaffordable. Luckily, the District of Columbia launched a new program last year called Produce Plus, which gives anyone on government assistance programs (SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, and SSI) a $10 voucher to buy fresh and locally sourced fruits and vegetables at any of D.C.’s several farmers markets. A few markets even offer an additional $5, courtesy of the farmer's market. I volunteer at markets around the city through a local organization called DC Greens, and the program is a huge hit. Last year over 15,000 D.C. residents received Produce Plus vouchers, and this year the number is growing. In fact, Produce Plus has seen such rapid demand that the D.C. government recently doubled its funding for this year.

A $10 voucher may seem relatively insignificant. Yet for the District’s nearly 100,000 residents at or below the federal poverty level, this type of assistance can make an enormous impact. To many of these residents, the option, or even the idea, of buying fresh produce from their local farmers market might have been inconceivable prior to Produce Plus. Some might lack the nutritional awareness of the benefits of real food to financially justify purchasing fresh produce over processed, packaged, cheap alternatives. But from what I’ve seen, there is an unmet demand for access to fresh, real food in this community. One customer told me with a huge smile on his face, “I love fruits and vegetables and don’t get to eat them very often…when I heard about this program, I came running!”

Each week, we see repeat customers who are making fresh fruits and vegetables a regular part of their diet. Customers gain a greater awareness of seasonal produce diversity and can experiment with new types of vegetables. There’s another big, intangible benefit of Produce Plus: It allows DC residents to feel connected to their community, the local farmers serving them, and the food system as a whole.

Volunteering with Produce Plus has given me the invaluable opportunity to meet and connect with people I would not have otherwise met. I get to hear their stories and the types of challenges they face. We see people of all ages, races, disabilities, and languages who are committed to spending the time and effort to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for their families. Customers are immensely grateful for this program and thank and bless the volunteers for helping out. One resident told us that being able to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from a farmers market significantly improved her quality of life. That says it all: To live a happy, healthy life, I believe everyone deserves access to fresh, unprocessed food. Produce Plus is shaping the way people access food, changing the food choices people make, and over time can improve overall health.

Danielle Chelminsky is a health researcher at a public policy firm in Washington, D.C., where she conducts multi-method analyses of health programs serving vulnerable populations. Danielle is also a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) candidate at George Washington University with a focus on health and nutrition policy. Through D.C. Greens and the D.C. Department of Health, Danielle administers Produce Plus vouchers to low-income beneficiaries at farmers markets. Danielle was a Health Practicum Fellow for the U.S. Senate, and volunteered in Vietnam at the Institute for Social and Medical Sciences. Previously, Danielle was an Instructor at the Department of Defense conducting crisis simulations, and a Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. Danielle received her bachelor’s degree from Boston University. Follow Danielle on Twitter or LinkedIn.