A city program that gives low-income households $40 a month to buy fruits and vegetables significantly improved their food security, a new University of Washington study found.

Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program, which launched in 2012 and now serves about 12,000 households, allows recipients to redeem their benefits at 46 Safeway stores, independent grocers and farmers markets across the city.

The study, published Aug. 19, found households enrolled in the program experienced a 31% higher rate of food security than those on the program’s waitlist. Researchers also found households receiving Fresh Bucks ate at least three daily servings of fruits and vegetables 37% more often than waitlisted households.

“Ideally we would like to live in a world where everyone is food secure,” said Melissa Kno

See Full Page