A fresh food program is expanding its produce credit model following success with this approach in Indianapolis.

Instacart and Partnership for a Healthier America created the Good Food for All Program in 2020 to help families struggling with food insecurity. The program initially provided 50 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to participating families for several weeks.

In the beginning phases of the Indianapolis program, families still received these pre-packaged boxes. However, Indianapolis families participated in an additional second phase of the program, where they were given $50 per month in “produce credits” for three months.

These could be redeemed online on Instacart’s website or in select grocery stores.

Results from the Indianapolis program released earlier this month reported 80 percent of participants preferred these produce credits over produce boxes. Additionally, more than 70 percent of participants receiving produce credits said they would continue to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and these credits had helped their families build healthier habits.

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According to a press release, participants who used these produce credits found an increase in food security as they had the ability to control the healthiness of food they purchased and the flexibility to support food preferences.

Following this success, the produce credit portion of this program will now be expanded to more than 1,000 families in Denver; Milwaukee; Washington, D.C. and Englewood, New Jersey. Families in these cities will be given $60 per month in produce credits to purchase these fresh fruits and vegetables.

Violet is our daily news reporter. Contact her at vcomberwilen@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @ComberWilen.