Nutrition Assistance in Farmers Markets: Understanding the Shopping Patterns of SNAP Participants

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods through farmers markets (FMs) among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. As such, the FNS has funded a portfolio of three large-scale studies regarding different aspects of how farmers markets function within SNAP. This report presents the findings of one of those studies Nutrition Assistance in Farmers Markets: Understanding the Shopping Patterns of SNAP Participants. The broad research objectives of the study were to: 1. Describe the shopping patterns of SNAP participants redeeming benefits at FMs. 2. Describe why some SNAP participants do not shop at FMs. 3. Describe the characteristics of the FMs serving the participants surveyed in relationship to their shopping decisions.