The state is expanding a program that puts money back on a SNAP recipients EBT card when they buy fresh produce. Tim Jenkins with the Department of Children and Family Services says SNAP recipients can now receive a 30-cent bonus for purchasing fruits and vegetables at Walmart stores in Calcasieu, Jackson, Lafayette, Rapides and Terrebonne parishes…
“I think it’s great to incentivize people to eat healthier. I want them to buy fruits and vegetables. The agency wants them to buy fruits and vegetables. We want our people, our citizens and our recipients to be healthy,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins says these five parishes join Ascension, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Webster and West Carroll parishes already taking part in the Electronic Healthy Incentives Project. He says the program started in Louisiana last April and they are already seeing SNAP shoppers take advantage of it.
“So far, just in about three and a half months, we’ve already seen over $280,000 in incentives that have been earned,” Jenkins noted.
No enrollment is required, and Jenkins says the program is open to all Louisiana SNAP recipients who shop at a Walmart store in the eleven parishes.
“You just have to be a SNAP participant shopping in these parishes. So you can shop outside of your home parish at these stores, and you can earn the incentive,” Jenkins explained.
The 30-cent bonus is automatically added to EBT cards at checkout and can be used as soon as the next purchase. A SNAP shopper can receive up to $25 per month.
