SNAP Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program Digital Promotions for Farmers' Markets

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of digital promotions of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fruit and vegetable incentive program on SNAP participant patronage and sales at farmers' markets. The study will analyze SNAP transactions from zip codes that receive digital promotions compared to zip codes that receive no additional promotions.

Detailed Description
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) financial incentives for fruits and vegetables (FV) increase FV purchases and consumption with long-term implications for nutrition-related chronic disease. However, many SNAP participants are not aware of these programs, leaving them underutilized. The investigators aim to assess if digital promotions of SNAP incentive programs increase SNAP patronage and sales at farmers' markets. Eligible farmers' markets in the New England Nutrition Incentives Collaborative (NENIC) will receive digital promotions for their SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive programs on the Fresh EBT app and Facebook, randomly assigned to nearby eligible zip codes. Eligible zip codes will be randomized to receive the intervention (digital promotion) or serve as a comparison (no additional promotion) with ads running for 13 weeks (Summer 2020 market season).

Official Title
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Impact of Randomized Digital Promotions of SNAP Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program on Farmers' Market Patronage and Sales

Conditions
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Fruit and Vegetable Intake, Healthy Diet, Food Insecurity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Digital Promotions Group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Farmers' markets in the New England Nutrition Incentives Collaborative (NENIC) are eligible to participate if they were data compliant in Summer 2019 (>90% SNAP transactions reported with zip codes) and have 2 or more nearby, target zip codes. Zip codes are eligible if their zip code tabulation area (ZCTA) centroid is within a 7-mile (urban county) or 16-mile (rural county) travel distance of eligible NENIC farmers' market and the zip code has at least 25 active users on the Fresh EBT app Exclusion Criteria: Zip code is not in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Digital Promotions Group<br>Eligible zip codes (n=96) will be randomized using stratified randomization at the state level. The intervention will last 13 weeks (Summer 2020 market season) and consist of receiving digital ads on the Fresh EBT app and Facebook for SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive programs at farmers' markets. | Behavioral: Digital Promotions Group<br>* Digital promotions on the Fresh EBT app and Facebook will run for 13 weeks, advertising a SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive at farmers' markets in New England. The intervention will be applied to zip codes randomized to the intervention arm.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>No intervention administered. Eligible zip codes (n=96) will be randomized using stratified randomization at the state level. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average number of market SNAP transactions by zip code for Summer 2020 | Participating farmers' markets record individual SNAP transactions, including zip code, and upload transaction data to FM Tracks, an online platform for managing farmers' market sales. Average number of SNAP transactions will be computed. | 13 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average market SNAP-related sales by zip code for Summer 2020 | Participating farmers' markets record individual SNAP transactions, including zip code, and upload transaction data to FM Tracks, an online platform for managing farmers' market sales. Average SNAP Electronic Benefit sales and incentives distributed (in dollars) will be computed. | 13 weeks | 
| Average market new SNAP customers by zip code for Summer 2020 | Participating farmers' markets record individual SNAP transactions, including zip code, and upload transaction data to FM Tracks, an online platform for managing farmers' market sales. Average number of new customers will be computed. | 13 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Incentives, Promotions