HIP Delivery Program inside Coastal Foodshed, woman taking orders from behind table

HIP Delivery Program

Fresh, locally grown food should be within reach for every Southcoast resident, including those who cannot easily travel to a market or store either because they don’t have reliable transportation or they have physical mobility challenges. The HIP Delivery Program is how we close that gap.

Each week, we pack bags of locally grown fruits and vegetables from our network of farm partners and deliver them to over 40 community partner sites across New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Wareham, and many of the towns in between. These sites, including housing authorities, social service agencies, and senior centers, connect us directly with SNAP customers who can purchase their bags at the site on the same day and time each month. 

Each bag contains $40 worth of fresh, locally grown produce. SNAP customers purchase the bag using their benefits and earn their Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) benefits in return. HIP gives SNAP customers a dollar-for-dollar match on qualifying purchases of locally grown fruits and vegetables, up to $40, $60, or $80 per month, depending on household size. The HIP Delivery Program brings those benefits directly to participants, eliminating the need to find and travel to a HIP-eligible vendor.

two HIP Delivery Program workers holding fresh produce next to green crates & bags

Hear What Our Happy Customers Have to Say
"[The HIP Program] allows me to feed my child fresh fruits and veggies with her meals for her 2yr growing body."

Kenya, New Bedford

"Without [the HIP program] I would have a very hard time being able to afford healthy food."

Isabel, New Bedford

"Good food is expensive, and I like to promote my daughters’ healthy development; it levels the nutritional playing field (somewhat): sufficient and nutritious food should not be only for wealthier families."

Liz, New Bedford

"I love the HIP Program because it really helps me and my family tremendously. We are on fixed income and the price of groceries have really increased, so here we are with the help of the government to help us feed our children and also help our local farmers out!"

Elizabeth, New Bedford

"I myself live on disability. I live in an apartment complex where we all rely on subsidized housing. To have HIP available on a fixed income has been game changing."

Linda, New Bedford

"This program has provided me with healthy produce I would not have been able to purchase at the grocery store. It has also introduced me to some things I’ve never tried before and now really enjoy and do purchase it helps me supplement my ability to sustain myself and not be a burden on my family."

Karren, New Bedford

"I am able to get fresh fruits and vegetables that I would not otherwise be able to afford."

Suzanne, Fall River

Since launching in June 2024, we have delivered more than 7,000 bags of local food to more than 740 SNAP customers across 41 community partner sites.

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