Boston Double Up Food Bucks
Have SNAP/EBT? Get 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables at participating stores with Boston Double Up Food Bucks!
Boston Double Up Food Bucks is a nutrition incentive program funded by the City of Boston and the USDA GusSchumacher Nutrition Incentive Program. You can get 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables at participating stores when paying with your EBT card. There is no sign-up or registration necessary — simply visit a participating store, pick out your fresh fruits and vegetables, and let the cashier know you would like the Double Up discount applied. You can receive a daily discount of up to $20 at participating stores.
If you have questions or want to learn more about the program, call 617-635-3717 or email food@boston.gov.
Boston Double Up Food Bucks Stores
Bella's Market
75 Maverick Street, East Boston MA 02128
617-567-7162
Davey's Super Market
438 Dudley Street, Roxbury MA 02119
617-445-6543
El Valle De La Sultana
121 Bennington Street, East Boston MA 02128
617-561-5800
La Union Market and Butchery
105 Chelsea Street, East Boston MA
617-567-0409
Nubian Markets
2565 Washington Street, Roxbury MA 02119
617-608-4940
Dorchester Food Coop
195 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester MA 02122
617-297-5913
Happy Market & Spirits
128 South Street, Jamaica Plain MA 02130
617-524-9536
Brother's Supermarket
776 Dudley Street, Dorchester MA 02125
617-265-4616
Boston Double Up Food Bucks Program FAQs
- How do I sign up for the program?
- There is no sign up necessary to participate in the Boston Double Up Food Bucks Program (BDUFB)! SNAP participants simply need to visit one of the participating stores, pick out your fresh fruits and vegetables, and show the cashier that you’re paying for your purchases with SNAP/EBT to receive the Double Up discount. There is a daily discount limit of between $5 and $20 per day, which varies per store.
- Where are stores located?
- See the “Participating Stores” tab for addresses and contact information for our partner stores. Boston Double Up Food Bucks currently has stores in East Boston, Dorchester, and Roxbury.
- Which items are eligible?
- All fresh fruits and vegetables are eligible for the program, including but not limited to: avocados, bananas, dates, onions, peppers, cassava, plantains, fresh herbs, and fresh cut up fruit or vegetables (as long as there are no additional ingredients such as toppings, sauces, or dressings), scallions, bok choy, oranges, lemons, cherries, grapes, pomegranate seeds, baby carrots, spinach, microgreens, mushrooms, and cabbage.
- Items that are not eligible include frozen fruits and vegetables, canned fruits or vegetables, dried fruit, dried herbs, cut up fruit in syrup, salad kits that include dressing or non-vegetable toppings, freeze dried fruits or fruit leather, dried herbs, animal products, and prepared food except for fruit cups or salads that contain only fresh fruits or vegetables.
- Boston Double Up Food Bucks recognizes the hard work and dedication of local Massachusetts farmers, and supports participating stores sourcing produce locally when possible.
- Where does the funding for the program come from?
- Boston Double Up Food Bucks is funded partly by City operating dollars as part of the Office of Food Justice’s annual budget, and partly by the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, project award no. 2021-70030-35762, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
- Who benefits from this program?
- The program directly benefits anyone buying fresh produce with SNAP at participating stores in Boston. By increasing sales of fresh produce at these stores, the Double Up program also supports Boston’s small businesses by bringing in additional sales. In some cases it improves the quality of fruits and vegetables available for all shoppers by allowing for larger wholesale purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables, more produce turnover, etc. Double Up programs are often described as a “win win win”— where low-income shoppers, local stores, and local farmers in many cases, all benefit from the program.
- What other programs are available for SNAP participants?
- See Food Resources for additional resources.
- What resources are available if I’m not eligible for SNAP, but need food assistance?
- The Office of Food Justice recommends connecting with Project Bread to see if you’re eligible for SNAP or other forms of food assistance, especially if your income or household size has changed recently.
- See vitalcxns.org/food for food pantry schedules, hot meal sites, and more resources in and around Boston.
