A $3 million state grant to Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health system, will make possible a new program called Fresh Match. Its goal is to provide financial incentives to families in need to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables.

Under the Fresh Match program, families participating in New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can buy fresh produce at a participating grocery store and receive a dollar-for-dollar match to buy fresh produce on their next shopping trip.

The health system is partnering with grocery retailers in seven counties to expand New Jersey’s Nutrition Incentive Program.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection,  only one in 10 Americans are eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, with even greater disparities among low-income Americans. Cost is one of the primary barriers to consuming these healthy foods for families in need.

“Hackensack Meridian Health is dedicated to collaborating with community partners to build healthier communities, and this grant will help us reach more people where they live and shop,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health. “By expanding programs like the state’s Nutrition Incentive Program, we are providing a more holistic and equitable approach to health that will improve outcomes.”