SNAP Produce Match encourages healthy food purchases

Low-income residents in Washington who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can benefit from passage of a bill that adds fresh produce money to their accounts through June.

Passage of the legislation added $2 million to the state Department of Health’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program, according to a statement from the department.

While the state typically kicks in $5 for every $10 in SNAP funds spent on eligible fruits and vegetables, the bill raised that to a match of $10 for $10 spent in a single purchase.

SNAP helps low-income residents buy groceries. The goal of the matching program has been to encourage healthy eating.

“These additional funds will help people with limited incomes, including children, people with disabilities, and older people, eat well in a time when food costs continue to be high,” Michele Roberts, Health’s assistant secretary for prevention and community health, said in the release.