NEW ENGLAND FARMERS & CONSUMERS GAIN BIG GUSNIP BOOST | NESAWG

Thanks to the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), a state program started with the help of a $3.4 million federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive grant (GusNIP, formerly known as the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives Program, or FINI), thousands of families in Massachusetts that had previously been unable to afford fresh, healthy, local produce have been able to purchase fruits and vegetables directly from Massachusetts farmers since April 2017. Designed to improve healthy food access and health outcomes for low-income families, and to increase sales and sustainability for Massachusetts farmers, HIP provides a one-for-one match for SNAP recipients’ purchases at participating farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and CSAs. 

HIP was a tremendous success in its first two years, with more than $9 million in incentives earned. Fruit and vegetable producers across the Commonwealth have seen a dramatic increase in retail sales. 

A coalition of more than 300 organizations has successfully advocated for commitments totalling $7.5 million for HIP in Massachusetts’ 2018 and 2019 budgets. For more info, visit www.hipma.org.  Thank you to Massachusetts’ Food System Collaborative for contributing this story.

Read more in How State and Federal Programs Support Farmers, Fishermen, Food Entrepreneurs and Consumers in the Northeast.