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BOSTON - Friday,
September 17, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey and the Mayor’s Office of Food
Access (OFA) today announced that OFA has been awarded $500,000 through
the USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
(GusNIP) grant to continue
and expand the Boston Double Up Food Bucks program throughout the City. The Mayor's Office
of Food Access will also contribute $500,000 in funds and in kind,
totalling $1 million in support to expand equitable access to affordable
fruits and vegetables. As part of the expansion plan, the City of Boston
is calling on all bodegas and corner stores to apply to be a part of the Double Up Food Bucks program For
more information about the program, residents and store owners can visit here.
“Everyone deserves
access to affordable, nutritious meals,” said Mayor Kim Janey.
“Especially during the pandemic, the health of our residents is
paramount. This program helps Boston residents, while also aiding our
small businesses. I encourage any eligible store owner interested to
apply and take advantage of this opportunity.”
The Double Up Food
Bucks program is a SNAP incentive program offered at local corner stores
and bodegas. The goal of the program is to incentivize and increase
access to fresh fruits and vegetables. SNAP beneficiaries who shop at
participating stores and use their EBT to pay for fresh fruits and
vegetables can get a 50 percent discount of up to $10 on their produce
purchase per day.
As part of the
Double Up Food Bucks expansion plan, the City of Boston is looking to
partner with more small grocery stores, bodegas and corner stores to
bring affordable, fresh produce to their community. Through this
partnership, participating stores will receive technical assistance,
including one-on-one training, monthly visits and calls, program
performance report, and program coaching.
Participating
stores have noticed positive changes in their sales and customers’
purchasing habits. “I have regular customers that always ask for the
incentive and see the benefit of eating healthy,” said Juana Martinez of
Monumental Meat Market in Dorchester.
Currently, Double
Up Food Bucks is available at nine stores in Dorchester, East Boston,
Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and Mattapan. Since the program began in 2018,
customers participating in the program have redeemed over $500,000 worth
of fruit and vegetable incentives at participating stores. The program
has allowed families with SNAP benefits to buy more healthy foods, help
grocers gain new customers, and keep more food dollars within the local
economy.
For more
information, please call 617-635-3717, email, or visit here. |
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