College of Health

OBJECTIVE: To explore perceptions of program impact among Double Up Food Bucks participants in Oregon.

METHODS: Data were collected from 1,223 Double Up Food Bucks participants at 42 Oregon farmers' markets. Chi-square tests of independence and logistic regressions were used to examine associations among key variables.

RESULTS: Most participants reported buying more fruits and vegetables (FVs) (91.0%), trying new FV types (82.2%), eating less processed food (69.8%), having more food available at home (81.1%), and perceiving improvements in health (87.9%). Perceptions of affordability were higher among younger adults (P < .001) and households with 3-5 people (P = .02), with children (P < .001), and without chronic disease (P = .003). Perceptions of increased FV purchases were higher in households with children (P = .009) and reported overall health improvements were higher among nonwhite participants (P = .04). Perceptions of increased FV purchases and affordability were associated with other positive program outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Participants may perceive barriers to purchasing FVs from farmers' markets, which are not fully addressed by the increased purchasing power from a FV incentive. Targeted redesign, outreach, and education may improve program experiences among groups with less positive perceptions. Further research to identify explanations for variation in program experience is needed.