To increase low-income families access to milk and dairy products, ShopRite has introduced a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded incentive program at a few of its stores.
The “Add Milk!” campaign increases the amount that snaps users can spend on milk and other dairy products with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds.
The USDA is helping the Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty at Baylor University pilot the program.
Here’s how to Add Milk! operates Customers who use their electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards to purchase skim or 1 per cent milk at ShopRite receive a $1 paper voucher for every dollar spent.
The coupon can then be used for any dairy product, including yoghurt and cheese, that has fluid cow’s milk or cream as a first component on the label on their subsequent dairy purchase.
At the Add Milk! launch event, Neil Greenstein, owner of ShopRite of Newark, Lori Kanitz of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, Michael Dykes of the International Dairy Foods Association, Jennifer Nelson of the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, and Michael Dykes of the International Dairy Foods Association were all in attendance.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that in May, the Consumer Price Index for dairy and related items increased by 2.9 per cent, the most since July 2007. In May, dairy prices increased 11.8 per cent from the previous month.
According to Neil Greenstein, owner and manager of ShopRite in Newark, New Jersey, a participant in Add Milk!, “ShopRite is proud to take part in a program that helps people acquire the food they desire and need for their family.”
The campaign’s most recent launch was likewise held at Greenstein’s store. We believe that the Add Milk! the incentive will make it simpler for families, especially those who are experiencing food insecurity, to get those crucial commodities.
“We know that milk and dairy provide key and needed nutrients for children,” he continued.
Along with ShopRite of Newark, additional stores participating in the Add Milk! the pilot includes ShopRites in East Orange, Kearny, and Hillside (West Hillside), all of which are located in New Jersey.
Later this summer, the program is expected to be introduced at additional New Jersey ShopRite locations, including those in Elizabeth, Bayonne, Jersey City, and the Columbia Park located in North Bergen.
According to Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for USDA’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, “USDA is committed to addressing nutrition security, including consistent access to healthful, affordable foods and beverages that support good health, such as milk.”
With incentives to encourage SNAP households to buy and consume more milk, this creative initiative is a great example of working together with our partners. It promotes healthy diets and supports American agriculture.
90% of Americans don’t consume the recommended amounts of dairy, according to the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty.
According to Dr Lori Kanitz, project director for the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, milk is one of our safest, healthiest, and most sustainable beverages and is crucial for a child’s growth.
The Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive initiative, Add Milk!, could not have come at a better time. The USDA’s dedication to keeping kids healthy through the Add Milk! the program makes milk more accessible to those who need it most, even as families struggle with increased costs and the pandemic’s aftereffects.
Read more:-
- Discover if you are eligible for a state tax refund with stimulus checks. Huston, Patrick
- Tax Cheats Will Likely Be Given a Reprieve as the IRS Crypto Crackdown Is Delayed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Receives Transaction Tracing Data From the Coinbase Crypto Exchange, According to a Report
The Add Milk! campaign’s specific objective is to increase the purchase and consumption of fluid cow’s milk, which, according to participants, encourages healthy bone and brain development in children, serves as a natural source of protein, lowers the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes, and promotes proper child development overall.
According to Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, who spoke at ShopRite’s program launch, “We applaud the collaboration among USDA, Baylor University and ShopRite to bring healthy, nutritious milk options to SNAP participants in New Jersey as part of the Add Milk! Program.”
“Milk adds 13 nutrients to the American diet, including high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium, as well as several health benefits, such as greater bone health and a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The Add Milk! The healthy Fluid Milk Incentive program ought to be regarded as an effective template for enhancing the health and wellbeing of SNAP-eligible children and adults in towns and states across the nation.
