Overview:
NYC will raise the daily Health Bucks limit for SNAP recipients from $10 to $14 in January 2027.
NEW YORK — New Yorkers who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be able to get more money for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets starting in January 2027, when the city increases the daily limit for its Health Bucks program from $10 to $14.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the 40% increase, saying the city expects to distribute nearly $2.3 million in Health Bucks to SNAP recipients in 2027. The program matches eligible SNAP spending on fresh produce at participating farmers’ markets and farm stands, allowing recipients to stretch their food budgets while supporting local vendors.
Recipients can use the coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at more than 100 farmers’ markets and farm stands across New York City. The increase will give eligible shoppers more purchasing power for produce without changing the amount of their regular SNAP benefits.
“Every day, New Yorkers walk into a store hoping prices haven’t gone up again,” Mamdani said. “As food insecurity rises, far too many families are forced to skip the fruits and vegetables.”
The mayor said the program is intended to make fresh food more affordable while directing spending to local markets and farm stands.
How Health Bucks works
According to the administration Health Bucks provides an incentive for people receiving SNAP benefits to purchase fresh produce. Under the program, every $2 spent on eligible fruits and vegetables earns a $2 Health Bucks coupon, according to the city. Beginning in January 2027, the daily maximum will rise from $10 to $14.
The coupons can help families purchase produce while making their food budgets go further. The program also supports farmers and other local vendors who sell at participating markets.
NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said the higher daily limit would give SNAP recipients more purchasing power while supporting local farmers. He also pointed to the connection between diet and chronic illnesses, including heart disease.
Food affordability remains a challenge
The city announcement cited new research from the NYC Health Department highlighting the difficulty many New Yorkers face in obtaining balanced meals.
Among adults at risk of food insecurity, nearly eight in 10 reported difficulty affording balanced meals. Eighteen percent had not eaten any fruits or vegetables the previous day, and nearly one-third had received food from emergency food services, such as food pantries.
The Health Department said SNAP incentive programs such as Health Bucks are associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption and improved food security.
The program receives city funding and $5.7 million in new grant funding through the federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, which supports projects designed to increase fruit and vegetable purchases among SNAP recipients.
The Health Department said it will also work with community and faith-based organizations to distribute Health Bucks to people who participate in nutrition education and other health-related activities.
For SNAP recipients who shop at participating farmers markets and farm stands, the higher daily limit is expected to offer additional help buying fresh produce beginning in January 2027.
