Online shopping has dramatically altered buying habits for most Americans in recent years, and now, the $75 billion federal food stamps program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is moving toward making that option available to the 43 million or so people across the country receiving benefits.
Seven grocery retailers were selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Thursday to take part in a pilot program designed to enable participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—formerly known as the food stamp program—to purchase their groceries online.
The two-year test is slated to begin in the summer. Participating grocers will operate in seven states, encompassing rural and urban areas, according to the USDA.
Companies and the states selected to accept SNAP payment are:
- Amazon.com Inc., Maryland, New Jersey and New York.
- FreshDirect LLC, New York.
- Safeway Inc., Maryland, Oregon and Washington.
- ShopRite, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- Hy-Vee Inc., Iowa.
- Hart's Local Grocers, New York.
- Dash's Market, New York.
For more information about the program, read the original article here.
