MARKET MATCH PARTNER ELIGIBILITY

Food Access LA and LACDPH have selected program partners based in LAC with existing community relationships and the capacity to distribute ARP Market Match to community members facing food insecurity across LAC. A priority has been placed on partners serving communities with the highest need as described in the Project Background section. ARP Market Match does not require separate funding for a dollar-for-dollar match on direct services or nutrition incentives from project partners.

Eligibility is as follows:

  • Program partners providing a match on CalFresh EBT must be authorized to accept CalFresh benefits or be in the process of obtaining authorization. Additionally, while the focus of this project is on CalFresh participants, proposals that consider WIC participants at WIC card authorized sites are eligible to apply.

  • Eligible organizations and businesses include farm-direct outlets such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s, farm stands, or small grocers or mobile markets.

  • Program partners should have a demonstrated commitment to combating food insecurity in the communities they serve and working with CalFresh and other federal nutrition benefits users.

Additionally, our program partners have demonstrated the ability to reach residents that are enrolled in federal nutrition assistance programs, particularly CalFresh and WIC CVB benefit users, and live in communities that:

  • Were most impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency

  • Have the highest rates of CalFresh participation, and/or

  • Communities that have been historically impacted by neighborhood redlining

    PROGRAM PARTNERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE FOLLOWING:

  • DISTRIBUTION OF ARP MARKET MATCH: Distribute ARP Market Match in the form of scrip or store credits to qualifying clients at a minimum of 15 certified farmers’ markets or other approved retailers in LAC and/or increase dollar-for-dollar match at existing certified farmers’ markets and other sites that currently operate Market Match and similar programs in LAC.

  • EQUITABLE GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION OF ARP MARKET MATCH PROGRAM: Support expansion of ARP Market Match program to reach additional qualifying, low-income clients in LAC, by incorporating ARP Market Match at a minimum of three new locations in SPAs 1, 2 and 6.

  • EQUITABLE RETAIL EXPANSION OF ARP MARKET MATCH PROGRAM: Support expansion of locations distributing nutrition incentives where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold (e.g. brick-and-mortar, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), grocery stores, corner stores, mobile markets, or other direct marketing outlets). Retailers who sell California-grown produce will be prioritized. However, retailers selling non-California grown produce will not be excluded. If non-California grown produce is sold, the program cannot be branded as Market Match and instead will be branded as an LAC specific program.

  • PROGRAM PROMOTION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Develop locally focused promotional and outreach materials including signage to promote the project and collaborate with local media, social service agencies, and community-based organizations (CBOs); distribute promotional materials to promote the purchase of fruits and vegetables to qualifying clients at certified farmers’ markets or other approved retailers.

ARP MARKET MATCH EXPANSION

Increasing Healthy Food Access in Partnership with LA County and Community Organizations

Market Match is California’s healthy food SNAP incentive program and is currently offered in dozens of the 130 farmers’ markets found across Los Angeles County (LAC). At an individual level, Market Match extends the purchasing power of nutrition assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh. CalFresh benefits are supplemental in nature, and LAC Health Survey data shows that low-income households still experience food insecurity while participating in CalFresh. Moreover, research published by USC shows that food insecurity in low-income households increased to 44% in 2023. The Market Match program provides on average $15 of matching funds for fruits and vegetables per visit at participating farmers’ markets. This program is vital in supporting local farmers and businesses, promoting sustainable food systems and community food security.

However, Market Match is currently limited in locations that offer the program, specifically communities in Service Planning Area (SPA) 1 (Lancaster, Palmdale), SPA 2 (San Fernando, Sylmar) and SPA 6 (Lynwood, Compton). American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding is helping to expand Market Match and similar Nutrition Incentives in these SPA’s and across all of LAC to ensure that CalFresh and other federally funded nutrition assistance program participants can purchase more fresh produce with their benefits.

The goal of the project is to increase the percentage of food and nutrition secure households across LAC. With project activities commencing in 2022, Food Access LA is currently working to ensure that low-income residents participating in federal nutrition benefit programs have increased access to nutrition incentives, thereby increasing purchasing power for healthy foods. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and Food Access LA have focused efforts on historically underserved communities across LAC, specifically in areas with the highest rates of CalFresh cases per census tract and in historically redlined neighborhoods. This project is currently being implemented county-wide to overcome financial barriers for low-income residents to buy fresh produce in LAC. LAC ARP-funded service areas have been identified using the Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative’s Equity Explorer mapping tool.


Service areas identified for ARP Market Match can be viewed HERE.