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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04458350

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Fruit and Vegetable Intake Food Insecurity Healthy Diet

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States

About this study

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).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Digital Promotions Group

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Average number of market SNAP transactions by zip code for Summer 2020

    Time frame: 13 weeks

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Average market SNAP-related sales by zip code for Summer 2020

    Time frame: 13 weeks

    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.

  2. Average market new SNAP customers by zip code for Summer 2020

    Time frame: 13 weeks

    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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tufts University

Other

Collaborators

  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Jul 7, 2020
Registry last updated
Oct 28, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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