Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced that New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be able to earn 40% more in Health Bucks, a program that matches what SNAP beneficiaries spend at farmers markets and farm stands. The program matches every $2 spent on fresh produce at qualifying vendors and, beginning January 2027, will increase its daily cap from $10 to $14. These coupons can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at more than 100 farmers markets and farm stands throughout New York City. By increasing the program’s daily cap, the Mamdani administration expects to distribute nearly $2.3 million to SNAP recipients in 2027 alone, money that will benefit dozens of local vendors and the New Yorkers they serve.
“Every day, New Yorkers walk into a store hoping prices haven’t gone up again,” said Mayor Mamdani. “As food insecurity rises, far too many families are forced to skip the fruits and vegetables. This program puts fresh produce within reach and makes groceries more affordable for families on SNAP, all while rewarding the local markets and farm stands that supply our communities with high-quality, nutritious foods.”
“Purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables should not be considered a luxury, they should fit every family’s budget,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity often report not having eaten enough fruits or vegetables, which are cornerstones to maintaining a healthy diet, and rising costs have only made accessing fresh produce harder. By expanding the Health Bucks program, our administration is placing those high-quality, nutritious foods back within reach of the New Yorkers who need them most.”
“Many chronic diseases, including heart disease, are linked to your diet. But knowing that eating more fruits and vegetables is good for you and being able to afford them are two different things,” said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin. “By increasing the daily maximum for Health Bucks to $14 per day, the Mamdani administration is putting more purchasing power in the pockets of New Yorkers who receive SNAP benefits, while supporting local farmers in the process.”
SNAP incentive programs like Health Bucks are associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption and improved food security. Among adults at risk of food insecurity, nearly 8 of 10 had difficulty affording balanced meals, 18% had not eaten any fruits or vegetables the previous day, and nearly one-third received food from emergency food services, such as food pantries according to new research from the NYC Health Department.
Health Bucks is funded through a combination of City funding and $5.7 million in new grant funding through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, which gives to projects that increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP recipients.
In addition to matching SNAP recipient spending at farmers markets and farm stands, the Health Department works with community and faith-based organizations to distribute Health Bucks to community members as an incentive for participating in nutrition education and other health-related activities.
Health Bucks is part of the Mamdani administration’s unprecedented push to make healthy, high-quality food more affordable and accessible for all New Yorkers. Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani announced La Marqueta in East Harlem as the first site identified for the City’s municipal grocery store program. The administration plans to open one store in each borough by the end of Mayor Mamdani’s first term. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Health Bucks SNAP incentive program. Since 2005, the NYC Health Department has distributed more than $20 million in Health Bucks.
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