Increase Access to Fresh Produce

Launched in 2017, the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) allows SNAP recipients to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables directly from farmers. Since their launch, SNAP families have purchased more than $81 million in fresh, healthy, local foods. 

When they purchase local, healthy food the money that they spend is immediately added back to their EBT cards and can be spent at any SNAP retailer.  

While the program has been a tremendous success, to date it has only been authorized through the state budget. Until December 2024, HIP Monthly Incentives (up to designated amounts) were:

• $40 for families of 1-2 

• $60 for families of 3-5 

• $80 for families of 6 or more  

Facing budget constraints, the Department of Transitional Assistance reduced benefits to $20 per month for all households regardless of size. In addition to advocating for permanency, Project Bread is also advocating for sufficient funding to restore benefit levels year round.  

In order to ensure residents are able to receive consistent access to healthy fruits and vegetables every year, anti-hunger advocates are lobbying to support An Act Relative to an Agricultural Healthy Incentives Program (H.150/S.85), which would create a permanent program to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. Project Bread has joined the Campaign for HIP Funding Coalition to advocate for this essential program’s permanency.

This bill would: 

1. Create a permanent program to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. 
2. Generate new jobs in the local farm industry. 
3. Allow farmers to better protect their land. 
4. Account for more than 309,000 individuals increasing their fruit and vegetable intake by 1.23 serving per day.