Abstract

Spring Hill is a small community in central Florida that is demographically dense in Black and Hispanic residents, marked by a poverty rate three-times that of the county average, and characterized by a lack of access to healthy foods. A 2016 Spring Hill community needs assessment indicated that residents are concerned about access to fresh produce, as well as high rates of hypertension, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in their community. The literature has established that low food security is correlated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases, including those mentioned. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has implemented a Fresh Access Bucks initiative at a nearby, weekly farmers’ market, where SNAP beneficiaries can purchase double the value of their SNAP benefits when spending on fresh fruits and vegetables. This program has been marketed to the Spring Hill community in response to their concerns. This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire distributed at the Spring Hill Resource Center to evaluate: 1) the effectiveness of the Fresh Access Bucks program incentivization, 2) the farmers’ market as a source of fresh produce for Spring Hill, and 3) obstacles preventing residents from accessing the farmers’ market. Results indicate that the farmers’ market can be a viable source of healthy food for Spring Hill residents and SNAP beneficiaries alike, while also revealing strategies to improve awareness and access to the Fresh Access Bucks program. Considerations for future improvements include shuttle transportation to the farmers’ market and the possibility of a mobile food market.