SNAP recipients will now have double the buying power at farmer’s markets.
Governor Hochul made the announcement that the FreshConnectFresh2You program will create a dollar-for-dollar match to eligible New Yorkers, allowing them to purchase more healthy food.
This initiative is an effort to offset the reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that were originally increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SNAP beneficiaries will receive two dollar checks for every two dollars spent at participating farmer’s markets.
“New York has taken significant steps to develop strong, mutually-beneficial relationships between local farmers and the communities they feed,” Governor Hochul said. “The new Fresh2You initiative will help ensure New Yorkers have more money to spend on healthy foods like dairy, meat, produce and more, while creating greater health outcomes, an economic boost to New York’s farmers and a stronger food supply chain.”
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We are excited to launch this new match program, understanding the significance of what this will mean to New York consumers and farmers alike. It will increase access to nutritious healthy foods, which will also have a direct benefit to our farmers and producers. I thank Governor Hochul for making this possible, and for her commitment to New York agriculture and strengthening the local food system.”
Executive Director of the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York Diane Eggert said, “The FreshConnect Fresh2You initiative will go a long way to assisting consumers that lost some of their SNAP benefits due to the reductions to the SNAP program. This gives them a tremendous boost to their buying power and encourages them to shop directly with farmers at the many farmers markets across the state. This gives the program a double benefit by assisting those with SNAP benefits to eat a more healthy diet, rich in local foods, while at the same time it boosts the sales of foods grown and produced by local farmers, helping to sustain local agriculture. We are thankful for Governor Hochul’s commitment to supporting local food and the state’s farmers.”
