SNAP, HIP, and Other Food Assistance

Fresh Food as a Right

At The Food Project, we believe that fresh, healthy food is a right. We strive to be on the forefront of food systems policy, advocating for and helping to create programs and policies to ensure that fresh, healthy, local produce is accessible to all. Learn more about purchasing fresh, local produce through the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) and other food assistance programs below.

What is HIP?

Use your SNAP benefits to buy fruits and vegetables from HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) authorized farms or vendors. You will receive a dollar back for each dollar you spend, up to a monthly limit. 

Download a brochure (PDF)

 English • Cape Verdean Creole • Khmer • Russian • Spanish  

Where You Can Use Your HIP Benefits?

Use your HIP benefits at any of the The Food Project’s farmers’ markets. Learn more HERE.

Find farm stands, farmers’ markets, and other local sources of fresh, local products that accept HIP (and other benefits) with the DTA Map.  You can customize your search for location, what days you can access these resources, and more!

Learn more how you can double your SNAP dollars when buying fresh produce through HIP HERE or call PROJECT BREAD’s hotline at 1-800-645-8333.

Other Food Assistance Resources for Families and Individuals

General Food Assistance:
Find out what food assistance resources are available for you HERE.
To find food pantries, to learn more about the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), or to earn more SNAP dollars, please call PROJECT BREAD’s hotline (available in 160 languages) at 1-800-645-8333.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)/EBT:
For more information on obtaining food stamp (SNAP/EBT) assistance, please call 1-866-950-FOOD.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program:
For information on obtaining WIC assistance, please call 1-800-WIC-1007.

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
See if you are eligible to receive Senior Farmers’ Market coupons HERE.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT):
Are your children eligible for receiving free and reduced-priced school meals. If so, learn more about P-EBT HERE.

Resources for Businesses

MassGrown Exchange:
Are you a business looking to sell, donate, or purchase Massachusetts crops, seafood, products, and services? Learn more HERE.

The Success Story of the Healthy Incentives Program

In 2006, The Food Project’s Lynn Central Square Farmers’ Market became one of the first in the country to accept SNAP benefits electronically, and piloted a small SNAP matching program. Two years later, this small program served as a model for the Boston Bounty Bucks program, a dollar-for-dollar matching program for use at Boston-area farmers’ markets. This program demonstrated the demand generated by SNAP-matching for consumers and expanded the opportunity for Massachusetts farmers to sell their harvests locally. It served as the precursor and inspiration for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which launched statewide in 2017. In 2017 alone, the Healthy Incentives Program helped over 36,000 families gain access to farm-fresh produce. As a result of HIP, SNAP recipients can receive extra SNAP benefits (up to $80 per month depending on household size) for every dollar spent on a CSA share or at farmers’ markets throughout the Commonwealth.

*HIP data via https://mafoodsystem.org/projects/hip-citations/