Knox and Jones-Smith Featured in Seattle News Outlets About Research on Healthy Food Benefit Programs
Posted: 9/4/2025 (CSDE Research)
CSDE UW Affiliate Melissa Knox (Economics) and CSDE External Affiliate Jessica Jones-Smith (UC Irvine) recently published a research article in JAMA Network Open titled, “Healthy Food Benefit Programs, Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, and Food Security,” that was featured in the Seattle Times, UW News, the Seattle Medium, and Greenspace. Programs that make fruit and vegetables more accessible and improve food security for low-income families have the potential to reduce health disparities and improve population health. Fresh Bucks is a $40/month healthy food program that helps Seattle neighbors afford fruits and vegetables. Dr. Knox, Dr. Jones-Smith, and their co-authors’ research shows that Fresh Bucks households experience a 31% higher rate of food security, they consume at least three daily servings of fruits and vegetables 37% more often than those assigned to a program waitlist, and other important data. To read the full study, visit this link.