Federal Policies Affect Food Security for NH Neighbors
Sweet potatoes for sale at Sweet Beet Market from Picadilly Farm in NH, just one of many local products available for purchase with SNAP benefits.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest national food access program providing food assistance to over 40 million Americans.
SNAP is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with budgetary guidelines set forth by Congress and the Farm Bill, a multi-year law that governs many aspects of the food system from farm support to conservation programs to food assistance. Changing administrations can mean big or small changes to federal funding and prioritization of programs like SNAP.
This is a good time to review what this program does and how it supports low income families as there are significant proposed budget cuts to SNAP making their way through Congress that will have real impacts on millions of Americans.
Impact of SNAP on People Struggling with Food Affordability
While providing food assistance through programs like SNAP does not address root causes of poverty or rising costs of food, it is an incredibly effective tool for helping American households put food on the table in difficult times.
In the US, over 40 million individuals participate in SNAP annually. In New Hampshire, 1 in 18 granite staters were enrolled in SNAP in 2024, roughy 5.5% of the population. (US Census Bureau)
A study by the USDA found that SNAP benefits reduce the poverty rate by about 8.5 million people annually, lifting many households above the poverty line. It provides essential support for those struggling to afford basic needs, the causes for which are varied and complicated.
SNAP positively impacts the following areas:
Food Security: SNAP is an effective tool for helping millions of households struggling with the rising costs of living have access to adequate nutrition, reducing hunger and food insecurity.
Economic Support: SNAP benefits provide a crucial economic boost in local communities. When recipients use their SNAP dollars (in the form of an EBT card), it stimulates the local economy and sends dollars to the grocery and food retailers who accept SNAP (like Sweet Beet Market)
Public Health: By enabling households to purchase food, SNAP boosts participation at school, work, and in community while potentially decreasing healthcare costs associated with illnesses related to insufficient foods
Dignity and Choice: The program allows recipients the agency to purchase food that meets their dietary needs and personal preferences, which can help preserve dignity during challenging times.
The Future of Funding for SNAP and associated programs
Sweet Beet Market welcome the use of SNAP on local food, with 50% off fresh produce through the Granite State Market Match Program.
Since federal dollars support the SNAP program and related food access initiatives, the recent federal funding freeze has affected a related low-income food assistance program in New Hampshire: The Granite State Market Match.
The Granite State Market Match program is connected to SNAP as a federally funded program administered by the NH Food Bank. It is designed to provide additional financial support to those who use SNAP dollars and incentivise the purchase of fresh produce by offering a 50% discount for fruits and vegetables.
Early in February of 2025, due to uncertainty of federal funds coming through to support these food access programs, the NH Food Bank imposed a $5 limit per transaction on the Granite State Market Match program, which previously covered half the cost of fruit and vegetable purchases for SNAP users without a cap. Thankfully, this program has been restored to its full capacity thanks to generous funding provided by the NH Charitable Foundation. It takes these kinds of local and statewide efforts stepping in to ensure that our neighbors remain cared for while federal dollars are uncertain.
At Sweet Beet Market, our local food access program here at the Kearsarge Food Hub, we welcome folks to use their SNAP benefits on local food with the help of the Granite State Market Match Program to incentivize the purchase and fresh produce. This is one really important and effective way to help get more farm fresh, local foods onto more plates in New Hampshire regardless of ability to pay.
In the short-term, we will be monitoring the future of SNAP funding and advocating for the continued support of this essential program that helps millions of Americans put food on the table.
In the long-term, it is critical that we work on building more equitable and efficient food systems where nutritious food is available and affordable to all, which is what the work we do here at the Kearsarge Food Hub is all about. It is both this short-term and long-term view that will allow us to ensure food security for all neighbors in sustainable and effective ways. As an organization grounded in the belief that food is a basic human right and community responsibility, we orient toward policies and approaches that honor this belief and that are rooted in dignity and care for all people.
Resources to stay connected to this issue:
For information on SNAP in New Hampshire, including how to take action to ensure this program is accessible and effective in supporting residents, follow the work of NH Hunger Solutions
For information on the Farm Bill, check out the Food Research and Action Center
For information on USDA programs, visit their website here
For information on ongoing farm and food policy changes, check out the Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker