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Isaac Poe

Mr. Lay

English 11 Section A1

May 2023

A New Food Assistance Program for Oahu

Introduction

Many of us have seen posters in schools and doctor’s offices that encourage including

more fruits and vegetables in our diets. While this advice is helpful in promoting healthy living,

it can be difficult for some to follow. Low-income households specifically may encounter

obstacles in purchasing the recommended number of fruits and vegetables due to their high

prices. Having lived on both the mainland and the island, I’ve noticed the stark differences in

these prices between both places. As an athlete, I value healthy eating, which means practicing a

diet that includes fruits and vegetables. Though I consider myself fortunate to be able to have

access to such produce, I recognize that there are thousands of others who are not.

The price barriers for fruits and vegetables that are presented to low-income households

prevent them from achieving a healthy way of living. It is generally known that lack of nutrition

from healthful foods such as fresh produce can lead to long-term health issues. This can snowball

into worse issues when households such as those in food deserts must continually rely on

cheaper yet unhealthier options from fast-food restaurants or gas stations.

Organizations like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Double Up Food

Bucks (DUFB) have been made to alleviate produce barriers for low-income households. However, these
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programs are not always wide-reaching, and their differences can make helping families inefficient.

Additionally, stigma and lack of awareness also limit the full potential for participation in these programs.

Although programs like DUFB and SNAP contribute to more equitable access to fruits and vegetables for

low-income households, there are still many families that are unaware of these organizations, which could

be addressed through a single, wider-reaching subsidy program backed by the Honolulu City Council

and/or better advertisement.

The Problem

On Oahu, fruits and vegetables can be expensive depending on the type, which can be a

barrier to healthy living for lower income households. Successful efforts to alleviate the problem

have been made by food assistance programs and farmers’ markets, but these organizations still

have gaps that limit the maximum potential for help. These gaps include accessibility, separation

between programs, public perception, and advertising.

In one study, prices for fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) were collected from supermarkets,

farmers’ markets (FMs), and other sources of produce in New Zealand. The researchers agreed

that, like the US, other fruit and vegetable markets (OFVMs) are reliable, but more inconvenient

to get to than supermarkets:

“Because OFVMs are often not organized through a central body (in contrast to FMs),

they may not frequently be recognized as important sources of F&Vs in the literature. In

addition, OFVMs may include ‘farm stalls or informal places of purchasing F&Vs and

may be more difficult to locate or track. However, we found these venues to be important

sources of low-priced F&Vs, at least in this New Zealand context. Several studies in the

USA have found cheaper F&V at farmers’ markets compared to supermarkets, and one

study found a mean price saving of 18% for all items” (Pearson et al. 5).
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The study found that OFVMs aren’t as well-known or accessible as regular supermarkets, so

they are not visited as often as well-known grocery stores. In both New Zealand and the USA,

produce in these OFVMs is low-priced. It raises a few questions, however; can low-income

families access these OFVMs? What if they do not hear about them or do not have access to easy

transportation?

Angela Rachidi, a researcher in poverty studies at the American Enterprise Institute, gave

a speech in 2015 to the US House of Representatives on the current food assistance programs

and their limitations; particularly SNAP. She proposed several solutions to these issues to allow

the government to save money and further help families in need. To address the issue of

inefficient information distribution, Rachidi spoke on the solution of merging food assistance

programs into a single unit. In some cases, regarding current programs, families will either

participate in more than one program or be unaware of eligibility for others, making it difficult

for organizations to make accurate reports and best serve households and increasing the chances

of fraudulent behavior (Rachidi 5). Rachidi summarized one of the most prominent problems as

this:

“At the federal level, different nutrition guidelines and standards exist for different

programs. For example, there are few restrictions on what can be purchased with SNAP

benefits, but WIC and the National School Lunch Program have stricter guidelines on

what can be purchased and administered. This sends very different messages about

nutrition and its role in federal food assistance programs” (Rachidi 5).

Households wishing to participate in food assistance programs might have difficulty in choosing

the one for them due to the differences in programs. Additionally, some may not even know or
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hear of these programs without successful advertising methods. With a combined organization,

information on nutrition and benefits could be better distributed and more wide-reaching.

A study specific to the state of Hawaii was made to research the effects of food deserts on

rural households. Researchers estimated that 370,000 Hawaiian residents statewide, including

127,000 children, live in rural areas, and must travel “ten to twenty miles to access fresh food”

(Brace et al. 2). The article recognized the value of farmers’ markets for all people wanting fresh

produce. They explained that in addition to giving important dietary and cooking advice, they are

also cheap, use less space, and are easy to set up (Brace et al. 2). However, they also identified

issues like ineffective advertisement and common misconceptions about farmers’ markets that

inhibited their potential to be successful.

“Farmers’ markets face obstacles when trying to succeed in low-income communities.

They operate on a small budget making it difficult to advertise beyond social media... To

overcome this issue, conscious efforts at inclusion of potentially marginalized

populations should be undertaken through advertising and direct engagement with

important voices in all communities near the farmer's market” (Brace et al. 2-5).

The issue of getting more participation and the false notion that farmers markets are for white,

rich people are two downsides to farmers’ markets. However, if advertising could be extended to

flyers, mail, and/or newspaper ads in addition to social media, they could have better success in

reaching those populations in need while disproving stereotypes.

There are areas of improvement for farmers markets and food assistance programs alike.

However, they still provide a great amount of help in getting produce to lower income

households and promoting healthy living. Nevertheless, these gaps can be filled by instituting a

single program under the Honolulu City Council.

Previous Efforts

There have been many methods implemented throughout the US to alleviate the issues of

access to produce. These include programs like Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and even farmers’ markets. As mentioned

before, there have been some gaps with these programs, but they also have many notable

achievements and benefits that can be drawn from and used in one single, city-lead program.

In 2019, the Michigan DUFB program was studied for its effectiveness in raising fruit

and vegetable purchase and consumption. In this program, shoppers in the SNAP program were

eligible for earning “points” by purchasing specific produce. Each point was equal to a dollar

that could be used for buying future produce, and shoppers could earn up to 20 points: “The

DUFB program has been shown to increase self-reported vegetable intake and reduce food

insecurity among patrons of farmers markets. However, farmers markets are relatively scarce

compared to other food outlets, and US adults purchase more than two-thirds of their total energy

intake from stores” (Rummo et al. 1817). The incentive program demonstrated that

subsidies/rewards were successful in farmers markets. However, they recognized that farmers

markets are not as common or visited by shoppers compared to stores. This could be a deterrent

when trying to get produce to low-income families. If most groceries are purchased in

supermarkets, then programs should be moved to more stores where they can be more effective.

Spending on produce in the observed intervention and control groups decreased; but the

researchers explain this as satisfactory: “In the evaluation study of the Healthy Incentives Pilot,

participants in SNAP households spent 11.0 percent more on eligible fruit and vegetables in

absolute dollars in response to a 30 percent subsidy, and 7.6 percent more on fruit and vegetable

purchases as a percentage of total SNAP purchases” (Rummo et al. 1821). It was found that this
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increased spending on produce resulted in an increased quarter cup intake of produce overall

(Rummo et al. 1821). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants bought

more produce in stores with incentives (a 30% subsidy in the Healthy Incentives Pilot) compared

to normal supermarkets. They also reported consuming slightly more produce as a result. These

results are promising because they prove the effectiveness of financial incentives, which can

possibly be applied to an area such as Honolulu where produce expenses are especially high.

Based on the success of DUFB in one area, the researchers concluded that it could also be

experimented on in others. They summarized, “The expansion of the Double Up Food Bucks

program to seventeen supermarkets indicates that retailers and employees are able and willing to

implement the incentive. Thus, an expansion of the pilot program to supermarkets in low-income

areas is feasible and likely to reach more SNAP participants than similar programs in farmers

markets” (Rummo et al. 1821). Because of the widespread success of the DUFB program, it’s

predicted that it or other similar programs can be instituted in other stores as well—especially

those in low-income communities. Perhaps here in Honolulu stores such as Foodland and

Safeway would also adopt a city-supervised subsidy program after it is experimented with.

Under a more cohesive program that combines the methods of DUFB, SNAP, and farmers’

markets, the gaps mentioned by Angela Rachidi could be better filled in and as a result help even

more households.

The Solutions

Oahu currently has programs like Double Up Food Bucks and SNAP, local farmers’

markets like Gava Grow, and numerous community gardens. As mentioned by Rachidi, these

groups possess flaws, such as overlaps and inefficiency. Additionally, as Rachidi proposed,

merging the aspects of these organizations into a single body could help even more people. This
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could be especially feasible with the help of the Honolulu City Council and funding from the

tourism sector. In other words, this new program could be supported by small surcharges on

plane flights and hotel bookings. Participants would be eligible to submit receipts of purchased

produce and in turn receive subsidies.

This blueprint for the program draws upon parts from already existing organizations. For

instance, a study was conducted that analyzed the effectiveness of the 2016 Double Up Food

Bucks (DUFB) program combined with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

in Utah. In short, participants were eligible for $10 coupons that could be used solely for

produce. Based on an increase in participation rate in the program from 7.1% to 16.0%,

researchers concluded that it and other projects like it were effective in improving the availability

of produce for low-income families (Atoloye et al. 5). This result was believed to have occurred

due to the communication strategy used between the leaders of the program and its participants.

Additionally, it’s obvious that the $10 coupons were effective at incentivizing customers to

simply participate. This will be important to note for achieving future success with either the new

program or existing programs in Honolulu; in other words, could an initial incentive like

coupons be used to spark the interest of shoppers?

It’s important to recognize, however, that there may be hesitation to start a completely

new operation. While the previously mentioned gaps do exist, these organizations are still

beneficial for getting produce to all of Oahu and improving health all around. As such, it may not

actually be necessary to implement another food-assistance program. Nevertheless, other

problems like low public awareness and stigma are still barriers to participation.

According to a 2021 study done by the University of Hawaii, 48% of families statewide

were estimated to experience food insecurity. The study explained that a lack of awareness of
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current food assistance programs is a main reason for this statistic (UH News). Based on this, it’s

clear that getting information from around the island to as many households as possible is key to

increasing participation in programs.

An important factor in the success of the program in Utah was the use of several

advertising methods. Those in charge of the project explained that “52,000 SNAP recipient

households that lived within 5 miles of a DUFB location were mailed a flyer describing the

program” (Atoloye et al. 2). Prior to the start of the study, the researchers identified “lack of

program awareness” as one of the main factors deterring customers from purchasing produce.

Because of this, those leading the DUFB program wanted to ensure that as many households as

possible were receiving the necessary information to participate. It can be inferred that a 5-mile

radius is the maximum distance most shoppers are willing to travel for groceries. This passage is

important because it serves as an example for Honolulu programs. While mailing advertisements

are clearly effective, other methods of communication (online/newspaper/radio advertisements,

official website, etc.) should also be considered to maximize the potential spread of the program.

It’s also important to note that the researchers conducted the study with two groups that

received news of the program differently. Neither of the groups had used the program before, yet

in one group, only 15% were observed to have continued the program after a short meeting with

the researchers; in the second group, 61% continued use of DUFB benefits (Atoloye et al 7). The

researchers admitted that this was due to the different approaches in marketing strategy. They

explained, “Our intervention was delivered orally over the phone while the intervention in the

previous study included in-person oral explanations, written materials, a map, and also included

a USD 10 voucher” (Atoloye et al 7). When the researchers explained the program simply by

word, most of the customers might have been less inclined to continue. However, when they
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were given physical items with detailed information like maps or flyers as well as a $10 coupon,

they were more intrigued to continue. Again, based on these results, advertising strategies should

be implemented to the fullest for Honolulu programs. Information needs to reach as many people

as possible; therefore, communication methods like newspapers, websites, radio/TV

commercials, and flyers should be used.

Based on the results of the Utah DUFB program, it can be assumed that advertisement

and detailed information is key in garnering as much participation in food-assistance programs as

possible. If a new subsidy program aimed at getting produce to low-income households does not

come into effect, then at the very least advertising for existing food-assistance programs should

be expanded to ensure effective and proper communication to eligible families.

There are many low-income households here on the island that use the support of programs like

SNAP to better shop for fruits, vegetables, and a wide range of other foods. SNAP and other

programs have demonstrated that they are making progressive and promising steps to address the

barriers of prices on fruits and vegetables. Participants in past experiments such as those in

Michigan and Utah have increased their purchase of produce, and even demonstrated interest in

continuing to use the assistance. Nevertheless, issues like public misunderstanding, stigma, and

inefficiency limit the potential maximum of people these organizations can help. An increase in

advertising through more forms of communication could better inform residents of Oahu about

program benefits, and thus increase participation. However, a new subsidy program with the

support of the Honolulu City Council funded by the island’s profits on tourism could be even

more wide-reaching.
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Works Cited

Atoloye, Abiodun T., et al. “Higher Fruit and Vegetable Intake Is Associated with Participation

in the Double up Food Bucks (DUFB) Program.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital

Publishing Institute, 29 July 2021, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/8/2607.

Brace, Andrea M, et al. “The Relationship between Food Deserts, Farmers' Markets, and Food

Assistance Programs in Hawai'i Census Tracts.” Hawai'i Journal of Health & Social

Welfare, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Feb. 2020,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7007308/.

How to address the growing food insecurity issue in Hawaiʻi? University of Hawaiʻi System

News. (2021, March 25). Retrieved May 2, 2023, from

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/03/25/growing-food-insecurity-in-hawaii/

Rachidi, Angela K. “Federal Food Assistance Programs: Better Coordination Will Help ...”

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 20 May 2015,

https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Rachidi-Ag-Subcommittee-Hearing-on-

Duplication-May-20-2015.long_1.pdf?x89701.

Rummo, P. E., Noriega, D., Parret, A., Harding, M., Hesterman, O., & Elbel, B. E. (2019,

November). Evaluating A USDA Program That Gives SNAP Participants Financial

Incentives To Buy Fresh Produce In Supermarkets. Health Affairs. Retrieved March 2,

2023, from https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00431

Pearson, Amber L., et al. “Obtaining Fruit and Vegetables for the Lowest Prices: Pricing Survey

of Different Outlets and Geographical Analysis of Competition Effects.” PLOS ONE,

Public Library of Science, 20 Mar. 2014,

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0089775.