How Louisiana SNAP Users Can Earn Extra for Produce

(KHLA - Lake Charles, Louisiana) - A new healthy eating incentive program has been launched in Louisiana for residents who receive federal food assistance.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients in five Louisiana parishes will get extra money added on their SNAP card by purchasing fresh produce at participating stores.

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Louisiana Parishes That Will Pay SNAP Users To Buy Fresh Produce

• Calcasieu
• Jackson
• Rapides
• Terrebonne
• Lafayette

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Louisiana's Electronic Healthy Incentives Project is already available in Ascension, LaSalle, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Webster, and West Carroll parishes.

For every dollar spent on fresh produce at participating Walmart locations, SNAP users will receive a 30-cent credit back on their electronic benefits transfer cards. The monthly maximum for the reimbursement is $25.

Since the program's inception in April, the initiative has disbursed $280,000 in bonus credits to Louisiana SNAP beneficiaries.

Sammy Guillory, assistant secretary of family support with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, says the program helps stretch families' food budgets, however, the bigger goal is to improve program participants health.