Daily Mining Gazette file photo Customers visted the newly opened Keweenaw Co-op location in downtown Hancock in this October, 2024 file photo. The retailer is encouraging patrons to take advanage of the Fair Food Network's Double Up Food Bucks Awareness Month.

HANCOCK – Fair Food Network (FFN) is kicking off Double Up Food Bucks Awareness Month with a clear message for Michigan families. The program matches SNAP Bridge Card purchases dollar-for-dollar on fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables up to a certain amount.

A statement from FFN says effective May 1, Shoppers can earn up to $50 per day in Double Up Food Bucks, more than double last year’s $20 daily limit, significantly increasing their purchasing power at grocery stores and farmers markets.

Frozen fruits and vegetables with no added salt, sugar, or oil are also now eligible, giving families more flexibility to choose options that last longer, reduce food waste, and fit their everyday routines.

Curt Webb, at the Keweenaw Co-op, in Hancock, said the increase is significant. “Basically, for a while, there had been a $20-cap on daily earnings, and now that’s gone up to $50.” According to FFN, in 2025, $12.5 million in local produce was purchased using SNAP and Double Up benefits, supporting more than 190,000 households and more than 630 Michigan farmers. This represents a significant boost to local economies: one dollar spent at a farmers market or farm stand can generate $1.70 for a community’s economy, and every dollar spent at a grocery store can generate $1.40.

“It was a program-wide change,” Webb said. “We’ve implemented it. I got the communication to do so.”

The Michigan state budget for 2026 secured $5 million for the program to continue supporting local farmers and low-income families.

Double Up Food Bucks is a national model for nutrition incentives that matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases of fruits and vegetables, doubling the buying power of low-income consumers.

The Fair Food Network is a national nonprofit organization that fosters community health and wealth by transforming food systems through nutrition incentives and impact investing, says the FFN website. It focuses on expanding access to healthy, locally grown food while supporting local farmers and entrepreneurs, most notably through its Double Up Food Bucks program.