Participants in a particular federal nutrition program consume more healthy fruits and vegetables than does the average American adult, according to a study of the program's effectiveness. 

The finding is part of the Year 3 evaluation of the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), released June 6 by the Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE). GusNIP, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), "supports projects that distribute financial incentives to consumers with low income to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables," the release states.

“Since its creation, GusNIP projects have worked to increase access to healthy foods, and these findings are proof of the program’s success," Suzanne Stluka, deputy director of NIFA’s Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, said in the release. "It is wonderful to see the impact the program has had in helping more families increase their access to locally grown fruits and vegetables."

Projects in Year 3, 2021-2022, provided twice the dollar value of incentives and were implemented at double the number of sites compared to Year 2, resulting in $85 million in local economic impact, according to the release. GusNIP participation also decreased food insecurity among participants, the study found.

The evaluation component of the GusNIP program allows grantees to collect important data and receive personalized support for future programming, the release reports. Collaboration between food retailers, healthcare providers, clinics and GusNIP grantees such as nonprofits helps improve the health and nutrition status of participants, increase program participation, boost local economies and support local farmers. The findings validate the success of the GusNIP program in increasing access to healthy foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, for low-income consumers, according to the release.

GusNIP funding supports nutrition incentive projects and produce prescription projects, according to the release. The Year 3 nutrition incentive projects reached over 146,000 participants monthly, redeeming $41 million in incentives. The produce prescription projects enrolled 1,986 participants monthly. GusNIP also provides training, technical assistance, reporting, and evaluation services through the NTAE Center, which supports grantees and applicants in implementing effective programs.

“It is gratifying to see the positive results we saw in year 2 trend into year 3, as far as continued improvement in fruit and vegetable intake and food security among those participating in GusNIP nutrition incentive and produce prescription programs,” Amy Lazarus Yaroch, executive director at the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition and project director of the GusNIP NTAE, said in the release. “And kudos to the GusNIP grantees for all their hard work and passion in implementing these important programs to help promote nutrition security among people with low income.”