Putting More Healthy Food on the Table for California Families Who Need It Most

PHI and Roots of Change, one of PHI’s programs, co-sponsored a California State Budget Proposal to set aside five million dollars to support healthy food incentives. The funding for incentives will help double the value of each dollar spent on California-grown fruits and vegetables for people on SNAP benefits (food stamps), and it’s estimated that they will create nearly 2,000 jobs in rural communities.

In a farm economy still hurting from drought, this modest $5 million investment is expected to boost farmers’ sales ten times and increase employment in rural communities—all while improving the health of local families on SNAP benefits.

A study showed that for every $1 million in produce purchased directly from farmers, 32 jobs are created. With the amount of additional spending unleashed by the nutrition incentive program, the program can expect to generate more than 1,900 more jobs on small farms. As a result of this funding, families will get more healthy food on the table, farmers and small businesses will sell more produce, and agricultural communities will see economic growth.