Face-to-Face Outreach Ties to Higher Produce Intake
Upstate New York SNAP users first reached in person reported eating more fruits and vegetables in a Cornell survey.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Organic Food
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A Cornell University study found that people first reached through face-to-face communication reported eating more fruits and vegetables than those reached through mass communication such as social media, mail and websites. The findings are relevant to New York residents, particularly those in the upstate counties served by a produce incentive program.
Why it matters
For families managing food budgets, how a program is promoted can shape whether people sign up and what they buy. The study suggests personal outreach may be a useful way to connect people with produce incentives, which matters for access to fresh food in communities where it is harder to obtain.
This cross-sectional survey of 417 Double Up Food Bucks New York participants, conducted in August 2024 by Cornell's Action Research Collaborative, compared fruit and vegetable intake by how participants first heard about the program. Because people were not randomly assigned to outreach methods, the findings show an association rather than proof of cause.
The players
Cornell University
A research university whose Action Research Collaborative conducted the study on produce incentive outreach and diet.
Field & Fork Network
A Buffalo-based network that administers Double Up Food Bucks New York, a program that stretches SNAP dollars for fresh produce.
The details
Researchers asked participants how they first learned about the program and used a 10-item National Cancer Institute dietary screener to estimate what they ate. Participants who first heard about the program in person reported higher fruit and vegetable consumption than those reached through social media, mail or websites. Earlier collaborative research found families with young children and people facing transportation challenges were more likely to buy produce online, which may help explain why in-person connection and access barriers are closely linked.
Timeline
Cornell surveyed 417 program participants in August 2024.
The findings were published November 4, 2026, in Family & Community Health.
Health Landscape
Produce incentive programs like Double Up Food Bucks aim to make fruits and vegetables more affordable for households using SNAP benefits. This study shifts attention from whether such programs work to how the way people hear about them may affect the diets they end up with.
If you use SNAP benefits in upstate New York, the program may be worth asking about through local community organizations, since personal connection appears linked to higher produce intake. Fruit and vegetable intake is one everyday habit worth discussing with your doctor or a registered dietitian if you are working to improve your diet.
The takeaway
Personal outreach may help connect people with produce incentives, but this study shows an association rather than proof of cause. If fresh produce is a goal for your household, ask a local food program or your physician about resources that fit your situation.
Further reading
For more on how food choices connect to everyday eating habits, explore our Organic Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
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