HARRISBURG, PA — A new $2 million statewide nutrition incentive program championed by state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, is now part of Pennsylvania’s newly enacted state budget, marking a significant policy shift aimed at helping SNAP recipients buy more fresh fruits and vegetables.
The initiative, modeled on Pashinski’s House Bill 1096, offers additional benefits to SNAP participants who purchase qualifying produce at eligible retailers. Similar programs in other states have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, improve health outcomes, and strengthen local agricultural economies.
Pashinski said the passage of the program comes at a crucial time for families facing economic strain. “SNAP nutrition incentive programs like this can reduce hunger, support local farmers and retailers, and improve the health of Pennsylvanians,” he said. He credited bipartisan legislative support, anti-hunger advocates, and the Shapiro administration for helping advance the measure.
Under the program, shoppers will receive at least 40 cents in added value for every $1 of SNAP spent on approved produce—a structure advocates say encourages healthier purchases without restricting choice. Federal matching dollars may also be available, which could further expand the program’s reach.
The proposal has drawn backing from Feeding Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, and The Food Trust, organizations that highlighted both the public health benefits and the economic lift for farmers and food retailers.
Alex Baloga, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, said the program offers “a smarter way to get better results, with less red tape, less government overreach, and more respect for Pennsylvanians who rely on the program.”
Advocates say investments like these are a critical step toward strengthening the state’s food security systems. Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania, noted that the state produces enough food to feed its residents, but many families still struggle with affordability. The Food Trust’s CEO, Mark Edwards, called the initiative “a historic investment in nutrition security,” adding that its Food Bucks model boosts produce consumption and farmer revenues while reducing long-term healthcare costs.
With the program now enshrined in the Fiscal Code, Pennsylvania joins a growing list of states using targeted incentives to stretch SNAP dollars and encourage healthier eating across the Commonwealth.
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