North Fort Myers store offers free produce to help families on SNAP

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Florida limited what people can buy with SNAP benefits this week, cutting out soda, candy and highly-processed desserts in an effort to encourage healthier eating.

• RELATED: SNAP recipients in Florida lose access to soda, candy under new rules

The state says the restrictions are meant to improve public health. But fresh produce can be expensive, leaving some families struggling to afford nutritious options.

"Fruits and vegetables tend to be much costlier," said Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, who runs a Marco Island food pantry.

Rossetti-Ryan said people want to eat healthier but may not have the budget for it. SNAP, a federal food assistance program, helps low-income families buy groceries, but the new Florida rules now prohibit certain items.

Mallory Bland, a mother of five in North Fort Myers, relies on SNAP to feed her family. "I have four boys so they're definitely big eaters," Bland said.

Bland shops at Sunflower Discount Market in North Fort Myers, where owner Lisa Crawford offers a solution to help stretch those dollars. The store allows customers with SNAP to get up to $20 worth of fresh produce for free.

"We have a pretty big customer base that uses SNAP cards," Crawford said. "It's a great way to really expand those SNAP dollars, because you are saving so much on your everyday groceries."

The program is made possible through Fresh Florida Access, a state initiative that helps people buy locally grown produce. For Bland, the program has been life-changing.

"It's extremely important that everyone's well-fed and happy and there's plenty to go around," Bland said. "It's really changed a lot of people's lives, and I'm not the only one."