NYC Health Bucks cap rises to $14 a day for SNAP shoppers at farmers markets in January

New Yorkers who use SNAP at farmers markets will be able to get more free produce starting in January. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday that the daily cap on Health Bucks, the city's coupon match for fruits and vegetables, will rise from $10 to $14 in January 2027, a 40% increase, according to the Mayor's Office.

How Health Bucks work

• For every $2 spent with SNAP on an EBT card at a participating farmers market or farm stand, shoppers get a $2 Health Bucks coupon, according to the Health Department.
• The coupons can be spent only on fresh fruits and vegetables, at more than 100 farmers markets and farm stands in the five boroughs.
• Today the match tops out at $10 a day. From January, shoppers can earn up to $14 a day.
• Health Bucks are available year-round at city markets and stands that accept EBT. To find one, the Health Department says to text "So Good" to 55676 ("Muy Rico" in Spanish) or use the NYC Health Map.

The money behind it

The administration expects the higher cap to put nearly $2.3 million in Health Bucks in SNAP shoppers' hands in 2027, money that ends up with market vendors. The program is paid for with city funds plus $5.7 million in new federal grant money from the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, which funds projects that help SNAP users buy more produce, the Mayor's Office said. VINnews also reported the expansion Thursday.

The city cited new Health Department research showing that among adults at risk of food insecurity, nearly 8 in 10 had trouble affording balanced meals and 18% had eaten no fruits or vegetables the day before. Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said the change gives SNAP households more buying power while supporting local farmers.

The program, which started in 2005 and turns 20 this year, has distributed more than $20 million in coupons, the Mayor's Office said. Community and faith-based groups can also get Health Bucks to hand out at nutrition programs, but the Health Department says its 2026 application is closed and the 2027 round opens in the spring.

Context

The expansion comes as federal SNAP work rules push thousands of New Yorkers to prove eligibility. The city's new benefits help is covered in our guide to the SNAP and Medicaid work rules. The Mayor's Office also pointed to its municipal grocery store plan, with La Marqueta in East Harlem as the first site.