DC central kitchen's gusnip proposal tests an innovative approach to increasing the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income snap customers through partnerships with corner stores in urban food…

DC central kitchen's gusnip proposal tests an innovative approach to increasing the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income snap customers through partnerships with corner stores in urban food deserts and opportunity zones. Our project seeks to help up to 38 small retailers in low-income, low-access washington, DC neighborhoods become robust, reliable access points for fruits and vegetables through the implementation of a digitized, produce-for-produce snap incentive model. This project represents a significant expansion of stores engaged in our prior, successful fini project and applies innovative new technologies, local sourcing partnerships, and community engagement strategies to support program goals. The project's distinctive focus on urban corner stores and customers who may not have previously engaged in health-seeking behaviors offers the potential to generate new, replicable best practices while addressing significant disparities in food access and health outcomes in our nation's capital. The three core research questions for this project are:1) to what extent does operating a produce-for-produce snap incentive model at a broadpopulation of urban corner stores in underserved communities contribute to increased purchases offruits and vegetables by snap customers?2) to what extent does operating a produce-for-produce snap incentive model at a broadpopulation of urban corner stores in underserved communities contribute to increased consumptionof fruits and vegetables by snap customers? AND3) to what extent does the application of emerging best practices for snap incentive programs -particularly the adaptation of innovative technologies and close coordination with impactedcommunity members - support program scaling and performance?