Regence and New Seasons partner to support food access for Oregonians

By Hanna Herrin
July 22, 2019
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Today, one in eight Oregonians is food insecure, meaning that they don’t know where their next meal will come from.

To help address this community-wide issue, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and New Seasons Market are teaming up again this year to support the Farmers Market Fund, an organization dedicated to making healthy, locally grown food accessible to underserved Oregonians.

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Continuing a partnership forged in 2018, Regence and New Season’s joint $30,000 contribution supports the Double Up Food Bucks program, which gives Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants a dollar-for-dollar cash match (up to $10 per day) to purchase nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets.

“We like to think of it as a triple win,” said Molly Notarianni, program director of the Farmers Market Fund. “Folks get access to fresh, local food, farmers get additional money coming in at the farmers market, and then we also help keep money in the local economy.”

For Regence, this investment is part of a larger initiative to address food insecurity across the state. Established as a key focus area to guide community investments, Regence also partners with organizations, like the Oregon Food Bank, to address social determinants of health through financial support and employee volunteerism. 

“Food insecurity is one of our state’s most pressing issues,” said Angela Dowling, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. “In partnership with incredible organizations like the Farmers Market Fund, we can boost our local food economy and make nutritious foods more accessible to Oregonians. We are proud to sponsor the Farmers Market Fund.” 

Continuing to partner with New Seasons Market this year was a natural fit.

“New Seasons shares our passion for building and nourishing the communities we serve,” said Alison Arella, Regence’s assistant director of corporate social responsibility. “We’re thrilled to partner with them again this year to support the Farmers Market Fund.”

Watch these short videos to learn more about the impact of the Double Up Food Bucks program.

Follow along on the Regence blog, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram throughout the season to learn more about this partnership and the impact of farmers markets on our local economy. 

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