Missouri lawmakers have approved a state budget that removes $2 million in funding from Double Up Food Bucks, a program that helps Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients buy more fresh fruits and vegetables. The decision comes as the state advances restrictions on certain food purchases made with SNAP benefits.
The move has drawn attention because both policies are tied to nutrition. State leaders have argued that limiting purchases of sugary products will encourage healthier eating, while supporters of Double Up Food Bucks say the program already helps low-income families access fresh produce.
Funding Cut Affects a Long-Running Produce Incentive Program
Double Up Food Bucks allows SNAP recipients to increase the value of their benefits when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at participating grocery stores and farmers markets. According to the Missouri Independent, the program operates at more than 70 locations across Missouri.
Lawmakers approved a budget that eliminates $2 million in state funding for the initiative. According to the Missouri Independent, state appropriations had provided $2 million to the program in each of the previous two budget years.
The program is not expected to disappear immediately. It is supported through a combination of federal, state and private funding sources, and current funding commitments remain in place. Donna Martin, director of Double Up Food Bucks in Kansas and Missouri, told the Missouri Independent that the loss of state support could make future expansion more difficult, particularly in regions where the program currently has few participating partners.
“The Missouri state funding is the reason why we have locations in Missouri that are outside of the Kansas City area,” Martin said.
Supporters of the program also point to benefits beyond participating families. Farmers markets and grocery stores have reported increased produce sales through the initiative. Paula Stocker, market manager at City Market in Kansas City, told the Missouri Independent that the program helps families stretch grocery budgets while increasing access to locally grown food.
The funding reduction arrives amid uncertainty surrounding federal nutrition incentive grants. According to the Missouri Independent, Double Up Food Bucks in Missouri and Kansas secured a three-year federal grant worth $5 million in September 2025 after demonstrating matching support from state and private sources.
Debate Grows as Missouri Restricts Certain Snap Purchases
At the same time, Missouri is moving ahead with restrictions on several products that can be purchased with SNAP benefits. According to reports, the state plans to prohibit SNAP purchases of candy, soda, sugary drinks and prepared desserts beginning October 1.
State officials have framed the changes as part of a broader effort to improve nutrition. Governor Mike Kehoe said Missouri was partnering with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative to focus SNAP benefits on nutritional health while supporting the state’s agricultural sector.
Critics argue that eliminating produce incentives while restricting food choices sends conflicting signals. During House budget debate, Democratic Representative Ian Mackey questioned the decision to remove funding from a program that encouraged fruit and vegetable purchases after lawmakers had emphasized the importance of healthier eating.
“A few weeks ago, we had a discussion about what poor people can and can’t buy and about how they shouldn’t be buying cake, they should be buying broccoli,” Mackey said. “*For the last several years, we’ve had a line in [the budget] that helped poor people buy more broccoli. And you all zeroed it out*.”
More than 300,000 Missouri families rely on SNAP. While Double Up Food Bucks will continue operating for now, program leaders say future growth may depend increasingly on federal grants and private funding sources.
