One of the biggest ways our co-op strives to promote better access to healthy foods in the Chippewa Valley year-round is through our Double Dollars Program.

About The Program: Double Dollars is a nutrition incentive program developed to help FoodShare Wisconsin users purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables. Vouchers are available at Menomonie Market Food Co-op on Tuesdays, as funds allow, and are redeemable while funds are available.

How It’s Funded: The Double Dollars Program is funded through contributions made by our shoppers through the Round Up for Good Program and direct contributions from Menomonie Market Food Co-op.

How It Works: Every Tuesday, FoodShare Wisconsin users who spend $5 on fresh fruits and vegetables with their WI EBT card will receive a free $5 voucher (limit two per Tuesday) to spend on more produce at Menomonie Market Food Co-op. Vouchers are redeemable within 90 days of when they were distributed.

Impact: Since this program was launched in early 2019, close to $10,000 in vouchers has been distributed. The percentage of our store’s sales from EBT users has also increased from 1% to 5%, and since the pandemic began, the number of vouchers given out each month has doubled. That’s a lot of fresh produce for our community!

If you’re interested in learning more about participation or have questions, visit our customer service desk in-store, or contact our General Manager Crystal.

This article was originally published in the July/August 2021 issue of our bi-monthly newsletter, The Morsel. If you’d like to read more stories like this one and stay up to date on the latest co-op news and events, pick up a print copy in-store on your next grocery run or find more news on our website here.