Select Shoprite stores in New Jersey are boosting the purchasing power of SNAP dollars spent on milk and dairy products to improve access for low-income families.
The program is called Add Milk! and will run for a year. It is piloted by Baylor University’s Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, and is funded by the USDA. Add Milk! works by giving a dollar paper coupon for every milk purchase, that can be used on any item that lists cow’s milk or cream as the first ingredient.
“ShopRite is proud to take part in a program that helps families get the food they want and need for their families,” said Neil Greenstein, owner and operator of the Shoprite of Newark, in a statement, “We know that milk and dairy provide important and essential nutrients for children, and we believe the Add Milk! incentive will make it easier for families, especially those struggling with food insecurity, to access those important foods.”
Four New Jersey Shoprite locations will spearhead this mission, located in Newark, East Orange, Kearney, and Hillside, with plans to implement the service in more locations, including Elizabeth, Bayonne, Jersey City, and North Bergen.
“USDA is committed to prioritizing nutrition security–which includes consistent access to healthy, affordable foods and beverages that promote good health, such as milk,” said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for USDA’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, in a statement. “This innovative program is an excellent example of collaborative action with our partners that uses incentives to encourage SNAP households to purchase and consume more milk.”
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