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Spending at Mobile Fruit and Vegetable Carts and Using SNAP Benefits to Pay, Bronx, New York, 2013 and 2014

Spending at Mobile Fruit and Vegetable Carts and Using SNAP Benefits to Pay, Bronx, New York, 2013 and 2014

BRIEF — Volume 12 — June 4, 2015

Andrew Breck, MPA; Kamila M. Kiszko, MPH; Courtney Abrams, MA; Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH

Suggested citation for this article: Breck A, Kiszko KM, Abrams C, Elbel B. Spending at Mobile Fruit and Vegetable Carts and Using SNAP Benefits to Pay, Bronx, New York, 2013 and 2014. Prev Chronic Dis 2015;12:140542. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.140542.

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On this Page

• Abstract
• Objective
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
• References
• Tables

Abstract

This study examines purchases at fruit and vegetable carts and evaluates the potential benefits of expanding the availability of electronic benefit transfer machines at Green Carts. Customers at 4 Green Carts in the Bronx, New York, were surveyed in 3 waves from June 2013 through July 2014. Customers who used Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits spent on average $3.86 more than customers who paid with cash. This finding suggests that there may be benefits to increasing the availability of electronic benefit transfer machines at Green Carts.

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Objective

In 2008, New York City implemented a policy that established 1,000 permits for mobile fruit and vegetable vendors to locate in neighborhoods with the scarcest levels of healthful food (1). The goal of this initiative, Green Carts, was to introduce a low-cost mechanism to increase the consumption of fresh produce (2,3).

However, the lack of fresh produce may be only part of the obstacle to a healthy diet. Green Cart permits restrict vending locations to low-income neighborhoods, where many residents purchase food with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Financial support from New York State Department of Health beginning in 2010 covered the $900 cost of an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) machine necessary to accept SNAP benefits and the first 3 months of fees ($35/month plus 3.5 cents/transaction) for eligible vendors. Even after the implementation of this program, less than a third of vendors were equipped with EBT machines (4–6).

To evaluate the possible benefits of expanding the introduction of EBT machines at produce carts, we examined whether consumers spend more on fruits and vegetables per transaction at Green Carts when they pay with SNAP benefits than when they pay with cash.

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (supplement to 1U48DP001904-01). The authors thank the Green Cart team at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their assistance in initiating our relationship with the participating Green Cart vendors.

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Author Information

Corresponding Author: Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, VZ30 626, New York NY 10016. Telephone: 212-263-4283. Email: brian.elbel@nyumc.org.

Author Affiliations: Andrew Breck, New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; Kamila M. Kiszko, Courtney Abrams, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York. Dr Elbel is also affiliated with New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

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References

1. New York City, New York Local Law 9, 2008. Amendment to Municipal Code §17-306.
2. Leggat M, Kerker B, Nonas C, Marcus E. Pushing produce: the New York City Green Carts initiative. J Urban Health 2012;89(6):937–8. CrossRef PubMed
3. New York City press release. Mayor Bloomberg signs legislation establishing 1,000 new “Green Carts” permits. News from the Blue Room, PR-086-08. 2008 Mar 13. http://tinyurl.com/yf4yo4m. Accessed September 3, 2014.
4. New York State Council on Food Policy. 2013 Annual report: current initiatives, accomplishments, and collaborative efforts. http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/cfp2/nyscfp_report_2013.pdf. Accessed January 14, 2015.
5. Fuchs ER, Holloway SM, Bayer K, Feathers A. Innovative partnership for public health: an evaluation of the New York City Green Cart initiative to expand access to healthy produce in low-income neighborhoods. New York (NY): Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs; 2014. https://sipa.columbia.edu/system/files/GreenCarts_Report_June11.pdf. Accessed September 3, 2014.
6. Citizens’ Committee for Children. Green Cart implementation: year one; September 2010. http://www.cccnewyork.org/wp-content/publications/CCCReport.GreenCarts.Sept2010.pdf. Accessed October 3, 2014.