about us

Wholesome Wave Georgia strengthens local food communities by empowering networks of farmers to facilitate access to and awareness of healthy food choices.

Wholesome Wave Georgia believes that all Georgians should have access to good, wholesome and locally-grown food. Our goal is to increase access to good food for all Georgians while contributing to the local food economy. By doubling each federal or state nutrition benefit (SNAP, WIC, SFMNP) dollar spent at our partner markets, we leverage existing government food nutrition programs to encourage shopping at local farmers markets.

The execution of the Wholesome Wave Georgia program is very simple: Every nutrition benefit dollar spent at a WWG partner market becomes two dollars for the shopper and for the farmer. This means more money for farmers and that more Georgians gain access to good, wholesome and locally-grown food.

In 2009, we launched as a state-wide chapter of the double-value coupon program with the generous financial support of Wholesome Wave and Atlanta’s Ellis Hotel. In our inaugural 2009 season we began with a network of three markets throughout the state. In 2010, WWG expanded to 8 markets in 5 cities. In 2011, WWG had 14 markets in 7 cities. In 2012, WWG maintained partnership with 14 markets in order to strengthen their systems and capacities to ensure each market is a consistent destination for SNAP/WIC shoppers. In 2013 we carefully and strategically expanded to 7 new markets, for a total of 21 markets across the state. Our markets now stretch from Metro Atlanta to Rock Spring to Bluffton to Macon to Savannah.

Our geographical growth has been made possible by the continued financial support of Wholesome Wave nationally, private donations, and the amazing support of our local partners. Along with a larger state-wide presence, WWG has seen exciting financial growth over the past seasons. In the inaugural 2009 season, WWG’s 3 partner markets doubled the value of $3,000 to $6,000. In 2010 our 8 markets doubled $21,000 to $42,000. In 2011, our 15 markets doubled $61,500 to $123,000, with 3,500 individual card swipes throughout our network, for an average of $17.50 doubled per shopper equaling $35 in good food purchased. In 2012, WWG doubled $115,000 to $230,000, with over 6,000 swipes, for an average swipe of $18.50, or $37 in good food purchased. For the 2013 season, we are budgeting for $170,000 in incentives, for a total of $340,000 in purchases for our shoppers and business for farmers across the state.

Wholesome Wave Georgia is run by a board of directors with the administrative support of our state EBT and WIC offices.

The Wholesome Wave Georgia program is committed to supporting producer-only farmers markets.