What’s HIP This Season?

The weather is warming up and summer is almost here! With the summer season comes an abundance of delicious produce. Eating in season produce is a simple and tasty way to celebrate the season.

Here are some benefits to purchasing seasonal produce at a farmer’s market:

• Produce tends to cost less when in season
• Support local farms by buying produce at farmers markets, mobile markets, or through community supported agriculture (CSA) farm share programs
• Get $1 back for every dollar spent on produce for SNAP participants!

SNAP recipients in MA are automatically enrolled in a program that allows them to buy fresh produce and get some of their money back if they spend them on qualified items at HIP vendors! It’s called the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP).

Qualified vendors include farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and CSAs (traditional grocery stores do not qualify to earn HIP). The amount that is reimbursed for HIP depends on the amount of people included in the household.

• 1-2 people: $40 per month
• 5 people: $60 per month
• 6+ people: $80 per month

Qualified goods include any fruits or vegetables sold by a HIP vendor as long as they do not contain added salt, sugar, fat, or oil. Items can be fresh, canned, dried, or frozen. Participants can also purchase fruits and vegetables that are in seed or seedling form, allowing them to grow their own produce if they want to! Funds are added to the EBT card right away, so the amount that is reimbursed can be used right away, or saved for other SNAP eligible foods at any store that accepts SNAP.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Find HIP Vendors: DTA Finder
Learn more about HIP: City of Boston – Health Incentives Program (HIP)
Learn more about SNAP: GBFB – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)*
Read GBFB’s Nutrition Publication: Nutritious Bytes, June 2022
Learn more about GBFB’s Nutrition Program: Improving Nutrition

*translation available in English, Spanish, and Chinese