New York is offering SNAP recipients up to $10 more a day for groceries through a little-known program

• The municipal program Get the Good Stuff allows residents using New York food stamps to add up to $10 daily toward nutritious groceries.

• Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani plans to incorporate 12 additional supermarkets into the network of 21 participating stores across the 5 boroughs.

• Health officials back this food security initiative with a $3.1M annual city budget and a $5.7M federal nutrition grant.

Thousands of SNAP recipients in New York may be leaving an extra $10 a day on the table during routine grocery trips because the municipal initiative Get the Good Stuff matches dollar for dollar what shoppers spend with their EBT cards on fruits, vegetables and beans at participating supermarkets, preventing families from missing out on direct financial relief designed to strengthen daily nutrition through a pink reward card distributed at checkout counters.

Furthermore, households unaware of how to claim this extra $10 a day on the table can capitalize on the expansion announced on November 5 by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, who confirmed that the city will add up to 12 supermarkets to the existing 21 stores, marking a 57% growth in retail coverage after the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Fund for Public Health NYC collect vendor applications through November 20.

“In the richest city in the richest country in the history of the world, too many New York families cannot afford the food they need; Get the Good Stuff helps SNAP beneficiaries stretch their benefits further and bring home fresh fruits, vegetables, and beans, so we are expanding this program because every New Yorker deserves access to nutritious food regardless of income,” stated Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.

How New York food stamps maximize grocery budgets

The operational process requires shoppers to request the pink Get the Good Stuff card at customer service and present it before swiping their EBT card because spending $6 on qualifying items with New York food stamps credits exactly $6 toward a future purchase, while spending $15 unlocks the $10 maximum daily match valid on fresh, frozen, canned or dried produce without added sugar, salt, or fat.

Meanwhile, official records from municipal agencies reveal that since 2019 this initiative has supported $8.9M in eligible grocery purchases and generated over $12M in local economic activity, operating with a $3.1M city budget for fiscal year 2027 alongside a $5.7M federal grant administered through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program.

Qualifying foods and expansion for SNAP recipients in New York

• Fresh produce and herbs: Shoppers access seasonal fruits, vegetables, and fresh culinary herbs using balances loaded onto the pink reward card across 21 participating supermarkets and 12 upcoming locations serving SNAP recipients in New York.

• Legumes and dried grains: The program covers dried or canned beans and lentils without added sodium or oils, delivering high protein nutritional staples for households relying on New York food stamps.

• Frozen grocery options: Families select frozen fruits and vegetables free of added sugars, ensuring longer pantry shelf life while reducing food waste in neighborhoods with limited produce access.

• Farmers markets via Health Bucks: This complementary system distributes $2 in coupons for every $2 spent at participating farm stands, raising its daily cap from $10 to $14, a 40% increase, to deliver nearly $2.3M in benefits during 2027.

Municipal strategy against food insecurity

Survey findings compiled by public health institutions indicate that nearly 8 in 10 adults facing food insecurity struggle to afford balanced meals, while 18% ate 0 fruits or vegetables the previous day and nearly 1/3 relied on emergency food services, prompting City Hall to designate La Marqueta in East Harlem as the flagship location for municipal grocery stores opening in every borough before Mamdani completes his 1st term.

Building on this neighborhood expansion, residents can explore the interactive directory hosted by the NYC Health Bucks Program to locate exact supermarket and farmers market addresses accepting New York food stamps through Get the Good Stuff and Health Bucks, empowering families to stretch every grocery dollar while elevating community wellness for all SNAP recipients in New York.