The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a two-year project that will allow some food stamp recipients to order groceries online and get food delivered to their homes.
Amazon and six other companies will accept supplemental nutritional food program benefits for home delivery in seven states, including Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.
The project is meant to expand access to more nutritious options at better prices, particularly for people who live in so-called food deserts, elderly and disabled recipients who lack mobility.
"Online purchasing is a potential lifeline for SNAP participants living in urban neighborhoods and rural communities where access to healthy food choices can be limited," USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a release.
The pilot was originally slated for launch before July last year, but the USDA ran into tech snags in making online use of SNAP cards secure and fraud-proof.
The project only allows SNAP credits to be spent on eligible food items and will not include delivery fees.
Read More:
- Amazon Will Soon Start Accepting Food Stamps (Business Insider)
- USDA Makes Way For Food Stamp Recipients To Buy Groceries Online (Baltimore Sun)
