Supporting Local Farms & Healthy Families: Why the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) Matters

Access to fresh, nutritious food shouldn’t be a privilege—it should be a right. The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) makes that possible by helping Massachusetts families afford local fruits and vegetables while also supporting our hardworking farmers.

What is HIP?

HIP gives SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients extra money each month to spend only on fresh produce from:

• Local Massachusetts farmers
• Farm stands
• Farmers’ markets
• CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture)

For many families, these funds make all the difference.

Why is HIP so important?

Healthy eating helps prevent diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other diet-related illnesses. But for low-income families, fresh produce is often too expensive. Many SNAP recipients have to make tough choices, like this story below from a Fall River resident:

“I’m over 70, on Social Security and SNAP. Before HIP, I panicked about what vegetables and fruit I could afford. I’d pick up a bag of fruit, look at the price, and put it back. I could only buy what was on sale, not what I really wanted or needed. Now, HIP makes it possible for me to eat healthy.”

HIP Helps Local Farmers Too

Our farmers work hard to grow fresh food, but most Massachusetts farms operate at a loss—losing five cents for every dollar spent on production. HIP supports the local economy by supporting more than 200 farm vendors statewide by giving them a stable income stream while allowing them to:

• Expand their business models
• Pay living wages and offer health insurance to farmworkers
• Build infrastructure that allows year-round growing

HIP is a win-win for both families and farmers, but continued funding is essential.

How You Can Help?

• Spread the word – Share this information with friends, family, and community groups.
• Support local farms – Buy directly from farmers’ markets, CSAs, and farm stands.
• Advocate for funding – Contact your legislators and tell them HIP matters – ask for $5M in a future fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget and $25M in fiscal year 2026 budget.
• Sign up for HIP Updates – Sign up for regular HIP updates here.
• Share your story – Share your story about how equitable access to healthy, local food has impacted you and your family or business/organization. Click Here to share your story with us!

Together, we can ensure everyone has access to fresh, local food while strengthening our farming communities.