BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can now use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) SNAP benefits to buy groceries online from participating Price Rite Marketplace stores via Instacart and Price Rite’s own online storefront, powered by Instacart.
Price Rite is the ninth SNAP online retailer in the Commonwealth, joining BJ’s, Daily Table, Stop & Shop, Walmart and Amazon, as well as ALDI, Hannaford, Price Chopper and Stop & Shop via Instacart. Across all eligible retailers, residents have spent over $133 million in SNAP benefits to-date buying groceries online. For more information on the Massachusetts program, visit www.Mass.gov/SNAPOnline.
“SNAP online purchasing is one of several tools the Administration has utilized, alongside the continuation of SNAP Emergency Allotments, to combat food insecurity for Massachusetts individuals and families,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “Price Rite’s participation in this program will help expand safe shopping options for households who utilize SNAP to help buy nutritious and culturally accessible food.”
“SNAP remains an important tool to help fight food insecurity by putting money directly into the hands of nearly 600,000 households and supporting our local communities, retailers and their employees,” said Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “Expanding approved online retailers promotes equity and safety for our residents receiving SNAP, allowing low-income households access to the same purchasing choices as other shoppers.”
Shoppers must enter their EBT card as the form of payment on their Instacart account and select items from the list of EBT SNAP-eligible products as part of their Price Rite Marketplace order. Similar to using SNAP benefits to purchase food in a store, benefits can be used to buy SNAP-eligible foods online, including fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy and eggs. For more information on using SNAP benefits via Instacart and Price Rite Marketplace, visit https://www.priceritemarketplace.com/ or www.instacart.com/ebt-snap.
“Price Rite Marketplace is proud to accept EBT SNAP online for orders through Instacart,” said Kevin McDonnell, Senior Vice President of Operations for Price Rite Marketplace. “This new online shopping payment option for customers who use EBT SNAP will make it easier for many families to get the fresh foods and essentials they need.”
“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Price Rite Marketplace to introduce EBT SNAP payments for same-day delivery and pickup, giving people greater access to food in Massachusetts,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, Vice President of Access to Food & Nutrition at Instacart. “At Instacart, we believe that online grocery should be accessible to everyone – not just a luxury for some. We look forward to increasing affordability and accessibility to nutritious food in partnership with Price Rite, the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance.”
SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for fees, like delivery fees. Economic assistance programs benefits received through DTA, which include Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC), and State Supplement Payments (SSP) cannot be used to purchase items online at this time. The USDA approves all retailers for participation in this program. Interested retailers can visit: www.FNS.USDA.gov/SNAP.
Residents can check their SNAP eligibility and apply online at www.DTAConnect.com or on the DTA Assistance Line at (877) 382-2363. SNAP is not considered in a public charge test. If one is not a US citizen or eligible immigrant, it is safe for them to get SNAP for an eligible family member (like a US citizen child). Currently, households are temporarily receiving increased SNAP benefit amounts and it is now easier than ever to apply.
About DTA
DTA assists and empowers low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life, and achieve long term economic self-sufficiency. DTA serves one in seven residents of the Commonwealth with direct economic assistance and food assistance, as well as workforce training opportunities.
About Price Rite Marketplace
Price Rite Marketplace is a registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. Price Rite Marketplace opened its first store in 1995 under the name Price Rite Supermarkets, and currently operates 60 grocery stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Maryland. Committed to providing the best value for customers, Price Rite Marketplace delivers a simplified shopping experience with top name brand foods and products and expanded fresh produce and organic offerings at exceptional prices. Price Rite Marketplace is also dedicated to fighting hunger through its annual Check-Out Hunger fundraising campaign and partnerships with Feed The Children and local food banks. For more information, please visit www.priceritemarketplace.com.
About Instacart
Instacart is the leading online grocery platform in North America. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada. Instacart has partnered with more than 700 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including unique brand names, to deliver from more than 65,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart’s platform is available to over 85% of U.S. households and 90% of Canadian households. The company’s cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the ecommerce platforms of some of the world’s biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership that includes reduced service fees and unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more inform