USDA Expands SNAP Online Shopping, Adds New Retailers
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
announced
expanded opportunities for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to shop online for groceries. More than 150 additional retailer chains are now offering online shopping to SNAP participants, representing thousands of actual stores. In collaboration with state agency and vendor partners, the USDA has expanded the availability of SNAP online purchasing to 49 states and the District of Columbia, providing more than 99% of all SNAP participants with access to online purchasing. In the last 4 months, 44 retailers were added to the program, representing 1,240 store locations. The USDA is providing
technical assistance
to all stakeholders who are interested in offering SNAP online purchasing, and is dedicated to bringing a more diverse, broader range of new grocers online, with a focus on smaller, independent stores.