2021 Food Access Program Overview

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Alicia Alferman

During 2021, through Cultivate KC’s Food Access Programs, more than 4,200 families, seniors, and individuals in the metro area were able to access fresh fruits and vegetables from over 238 local farmers and growers in Kansas and Missouri.

Double Up Food Bucks has helped 3,092 SNAP beneficiaries purchase $149,613 worth of locally grown fruits and vegetables at 14 farmers markets. Additionally, Cultivate KC Coupons provided 298 seniors with $7,144 in farmers markets coupons to purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables.

This year we added two new Food Access Programs to help community members secure fresh fruits and vegetables amidst a global pandemic and economic crisis. In partnership with Whole Foods, we administered Whole Foods Nutrition Program that provided 800 SNAP beneficiaries with reusable shopping bags full of shelf-stable ingredients and recipes to cook healthy meals at home.

We also coordinated the purchase and distribution of 100 produce shares to seniors at Don Bosco Senior Center and The Shepherd’s Center of KCK for Thanksgiving.